Press Briefing Friday, 08 May 2009

Shri Kapil Sibal addressed the media today.



Shri Kapil Sibal said that the people of Delhi, Rajasthan and Punjab had proved that they were not ‘Pappus’ by coming out and casting their vote despite the hot weather. It proved that the people have full faith and confidence in the present day government. He said that it had become clear after the 4th phase of polling that the Congress party was racing towards the 200 seats mark and the Congress party would definitely form the Government.



Shri Kapil Sibal said that from the way the young had cast their vote especially in Delhi, it could very well be said that the people of this country were impressed with the youth leadership of the Congress party. He was confident that the young were inclined towards the Congress party and have reposed their faith and confidence in the party.



Shri Kapil Sibal further said that it was a matter of great concern, that for the first time in India, the SIT was seriously thinking of not only giving protection but also changing the names and identities of about 210 witnesses (for the SIT) in the Gujarat riots case (Godhra and post-Godhra.) He said that this kind of protection was normally given in South American countries against mafia gangs. And it was a sad day in the history of our country that we were required to give protection to witnesses who fear for their lives from their own people. It was extremely tragic that this should happen in a State which had been celebrated by the BJP as the finest example of good administration.



Shri Kapil Sibal that in the last phase, 86 seats would go to the polls and looking at the trends, it had become clear that in these seats too the Congress party would perform well. The Congress party would definitely do well in the States of Punjab, West Bengal, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu. He further added that the picture would be clear after the 16th of May 2009.



To a question on the BJP saying that the UPA Government was misusing the powers of the Election Commission with regard to re-polling in Bihar, Shri Kapil Sibal said that this had happened many times in the history of Bihar. During the NDA time there was re-polling in many booths in Bihar. He added that this was not enough reason for anybody to suggest that the Election Commission powers were being misused. He reminded that re-polling had been provided for under the Representation of Peoples’ Act if sufficient reasons were given for it. He added that there were Supreme Court judgments stating that re-polling in a particular booth could be done after giving reasons for this and these reasons were justiceable in a Court of law.



To a further question, Shri Kapil Sibal said that Shri Laloo Prasad Yadav and Shri Ram Vilas Paswan were the partners of UPA and would remain the partners of the UPA and would also be partners in the formation of the next government.



To the question over Shri Nitish Kumar, Shri Kapil Sibal said that he does not wish to comment on this issue but added that the Congress party had not made any appeal to Shri Nitish Kumar.



To a further question relating to the BJP making a statement that the UPA did not have faith in their allies; Shri Kapil Sibal said that Shri Advani should take care of his own house (coalition) which was falling apart day by day. He added that there was a certain amount of frustration in the ranks of BJP. Shri Kapil Sibal further said that Shri Advani had not presented any concrete issues before the nation, nor has he spoken about policies like how they would face the economic recession. He said that Advani had spent all his time in criticizing the Congress party.



To another question whether the Congress party would prefer the single largest party or the largest pre-poll alliance or post-poll alliance to be invited to form the government, Shri Kapil Sibal said that he did not want to comment on this issue or advice the President. This was the constitutional discretion of the Hon’ble President of India. He said that the Congress party did not wish to speak on this issue especially when the election process was still on.







(Tom Vadakkan)

Secretary, AICC