Press
Briefing Tuesday, 1st March 2011
Smt.
Jayanthi Natarajan addressed the media today.
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan said that yesterday already the
Congress party spoke about the budget. We wanted to once
again focus upon the highlight which is of inclusive
growth that the budget emphasizes and sincerely
congratulate the Finance Minister for having given us a
visionary budget in which the fundamental commitment of
the Indian National Congress and of the UPA to the issue
of inclusive growth has been addressed in such a
comprehensive manner. Special attention has been paid to
Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
Scheme to sections as diverse as ‘Aanganwadi’ workers
and socially disadvantaged sections, while at the same
time, maintaining the process of acceleration towards
cautious growth and keeping India on the track of growth
despite the deceleration being observed in several other
countries around us especially after the economic
crisis. So we want to highlight also the special
attention paid to the agriculture sector in terms of the
direct cash transfers, the fertilizer subsidy, the
attention that has been given towards cold chain storage
supply and the issue of the building of the
infrastructure. So, once again going through the details
of the budget, we would like to congratulate the Hon’ble
Finance Minister for the main thrust upon socially
inclusive growth keeping the pace of reforms, the idea
of growth keeping the fiscal deficit down and keeping
the Indian economy steering a steady course of growth
with social justice which is the basic fundamental of
our economic policy. We would like to congratulate and
we would hope that all that has been promised will very
soon be converted into reality and the benefits will
reach the people as soon as possible.
On the question whether the Congress President has taken
suo-moto action on the news report against the PWD
Minister of NCR Delhi, Smt. Natarajan said actually I
have also seen that news report but so far I am not
aware whether any other steps have been taken. I am not
aware also of the veracity or what materials were before
the ‘Lokayukta’ when any such decision was taken. So, I
have no doubt that if there are any facts, sufficient
notice will be taken by the Party High Command.
On the question of outcome on the seat sharing between
the Congress party and the DMK in the forthcoming
Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Smt. Natarajan said,
Yes, the seat sharing talks between the DMK and the
Congress party are continuing in a very cordial
atmosphere. Naturally, there is intense pressure because
we would like to get best possible recognition for our
status as a National party and for the wide support that
we enjoy among the people and therefore, the discussion
regarding the sharing of seats is continuing but we are
very confident that they would be concluded very quickly
and the alliance will go into field and start working on
the elections.
On the reaction of the Congress party over demand of
almost all parties in Lok Sabha that caste enumeration
must also indicate the details about social, economic
and educational status of various castes, Smt. Natarajan
said I have not understood what they have raised. I am
not aware what was raised in Lok Sabha but we have
always said that whatever enumeration is going to be
made is for a particular reason. The government has
already taken a stand on that and any further analysis,
I think; the government will take a view. But regarding
what was raised in the Lok Sabha and what exactly was
the demand made, I am not aware about it.
On the question of seat sharing between the TMC and the
Congress party in the forthcoming Assembly elections in
West Bengal, Smt. Natarajan said I have more knowledge
about Tamil Nadu because I am directly involved with DMK
but the talks with the TMC -whether they have begun or
not – I think I will have to find out information and
let you know. Perhaps, it is better, if you ask the
General Secretary in charge because I am not very
confident of the actual facts of the progress of talks
with TMC.
On the question of the reaction of the Congress party on
the death sentence announced in Godhra case, Smt.
Natarajan said it is not the intention of the Indian
National Congress to draw any parallel between the
report of a Commission and judgment of a Court. If there
is a judgment of a court, we do not comment upon that
judgment. Similarly, the quantum of punishment is the
prerogative of the court to announce and therefore, we
have no further comments on the quantum of punishment
which has been announced by the court.
On the question whether Shri Jaswant Singh and Yashwant
Sinha should also quit the membership of JPC as has been
done by Shri Abhishek Singhvi, Smt. Natarajan said we
have not taken any official stand on that yet. The
Congress party has not taken an official view on that.
At this point, we have nothing to say on that.
On the question of the reaction of the Congress party
over the police firing on protestors in Srikakulam in
Vizag, Smt. Natarajan said the question of a power
plant, development of infrastructure projects is
something which always the people of the State have very
strong views on but we would certainly find that any
violence against protestors which results particularly
in death is unfortunate and we are confident that the
State government will take all action to ensure that
proper relief and rehabilitation is given to the
families of the victims.
Tom Vadakkan
Secretary, AICC
