Press Briefing
Wednesday, 8 Apr 2009
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan addressed the media
today.
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan said that in the thick
of election campaign, it is very unfortunate and
regrettable, that vested interests led by the
BJP party are once again attempting to subvert
the secular fabric of our democracy by resorting
to a divisive agenda, and actively promoting,
fostering, and propagating message of hate and
polarization, in a bid to gain electoral
advantage. Time and time again the BJP party has
attempted to use this ploy, and each time, the
wise and mature electorate of India has seen
through the game plan of division and
destruction and rejected the communal agenda of
the BJP party. The most important and
significant rebuff which was delivered by the
people of India to the BJP was the results of
the recently concluded Assembly elections of
2008, when the BJP went all out to communalize
and politicize the Mumbai terror attacks, and
found that this divisive appeal was
contemptuously rejected by the electorate.
During these elections, starting from the
Pilibhit incident, and with every passing day,
the BJP party has sought to once again spread
its narrow and chauvinistic message of
communalism.
On the other hand the track record of the
Congress party in its commitment to secular
values, and in the maintenance of communal
harmony in the country, is exemplary. The
Congress party has always sought to unite, and
never to divide the country. The Congress Party
has always been at the forefront of the battle
against the forces which seek do divide the
country. In that sense, the contest between the
Congress Party and the BJP party is a
fundamental clash between the idea of an
inclusive, liberal and secular nation, and the
narrow communal and divisive exclusionary
nationalism practiced by the BJP.
Smt. Natarajan said that with every passing day,
the BJP party and its isolation are further
exposed. The electorate has been observing, and
understands clearly the isolation and
irrelevance of the BJP. The allies of the BJP
party, who were over 24 when they were in
Government are less than four today – clear
proof of the alienation of the BJP party from
the people of India. The most recent proof of
alienation of the BJP is evident from the
statement of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar
that Narendra Modi should not campaign in Bihar,
as also his outright condemnation of the
Pilibhit incident. Nothing could be more clear
proof of the fact that the BJP party and its
leadership stands isolated from their own
allies, as well as the people of India, and will
be soundly and comprehensively defeated in the
forthcoming elections.
Smt. Natarajan said that it is not just Narendra
Modi but Shri Advani himself, who is totally
unacceptable to both allies, as well as the
people of India, due to his constant flip flops
on important issues, and self serving
pronouncements on national issues. Thus, while
he continues to support Varun Gandhi’s
candidature, he says at the same time, that due
to the concerns of allies, the BJP’s own alleged
core issues such as the Ram mandir, and Article
370 will be kept on the back burner. It has
become evident that Shri Advani and his
leadership, stand already rejected, not just by
the electorate, and his own NDA allies, but even
by sections of his own party.
Smt. Natarajan said that the Congress party
reiterates its commitment to a secular,
inclusive society, and will surely carry
forward, its own excellent track record, after
being elected to Government after the
forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
On the question whether Shri Jagdish Tytler’s
candidature for Lok Sabha is being reconsidered,
Smt. Natarajan said that she has nothing to add
what was yesterday said by Shri Janardan Dwivedi
and repeated by Shri Ashwani Kumar.
On the question whether candidate’s ability to
win is important for the Congress Party or
morality, Smt. Natarajan said that morality and
ability to win are both important.
On the question of statement of Mayawati over
the stay of Shri Rahul Gandhi at dalit’s house
in UP, Smt. Natarajan said that I would like to
say that the concern of the Congress Party for
the ‘Aam Aadmi’ is exemplified in Shri Rahul
Gandhi’s concern. He has gone and made it a
mission to visit, interact and move with the
most disadvantaged section of the society. Shri
Rahul Gandhi reflects his own and the party’s
concern for the most disadvantaged section of
the society. Therefore, it is something that the
Congress Party is totally committed to. We do
not need Mayawati’s certificate regarding our
concern for the most disadvantaged or backward
section of the society and further said that
when the people vote, Mayawati will know whose
concern has been accepted and further said she
was sure that it would be the Congress Party.
(Tom Vadakkan)
Secretary, AICC
