Press
Briefing Friday, 11th June 2010
Smt.
Jayanthi Natarajan addressed the media today.
On the question whether Shri Digvijay Singh’s statement
directly implicates Rajiv Gandhi Government apart from
Shri Arjun Singh, Smt. Natarajan said there is no
question of Rajiv Gandhi Government being implicated.
Shri Digvijay Singh has explained his own statement and
the question of Rajiv Gandhi or his Government being
implicated does not arise and he has clarified what he
said earlier.
On the question why does not the party and the
Government give one statement instead of different
statements coming from different persons, Smt. Natarajan
said that whatever facts, as we have already said, need
to be further examined, will be examined by the new
Group of Ministers which has been set up by the Prime
Minister and at that point of time whatever needs to be
shared with the media, we will surely do that.
On the question over the silence of Shri Arjun Singh and
whether he is being provoked by Congress Party leaders,
Smt. Natarajan said I don’t think that any attempts like
that are being made. It is a very serious matter. The
issue is one of the biggest disasters in our democracy
and we are anxious that whatever new facts will emerge
or whatever facts are there over and beyond whatever has
come out over these 26 years should be brought out and
that is why the Government has set up a Group of
Ministers.
Over the question that GOM is not an investigative body,
Smt. Natyarajan said that at this point of time after 26
years whatever details need to come out, it has to be
gone into at the level of Government and it is for that
purpose using the GOM whichever investigative body or
other forum, proper facts will be gathered by the
Government and this is not something, this is far too
sensitive a matter, for me to give an off the cuff or
politicize the issue. That is the reason why I am
repeatedly saying that once further facts, if any, come
out; certainly we will share our views on those facts
with you. After 26 years various things have been said
by various people and this is the reason why we hope
rather we are confident in fact that the GOM will gather
all the resources and bring out the correct facts and
place them before the nation.
On the reaction of the Congress party on the interview
by Mr. Alexander where he talked about Rajiv Gandhi and
Arjun Singh being in touch on Anderson issue, Smt.
Natarajan said I saw the entire interview. He said no
such thing. He said they were in constant touch and the
CM and the Prime Minister being in touch is nothing
unusual.
On a further question on the composition of the GOM,
Smt. Natarajan said I don’t believe it is fair to cast
aspersions on Ministers without any substance. I speak
for the party and not for the Government but as far as
the Congress Party is concerned I believe that it is not
really fair to cast aspersions upon senior Ministers who
might have offered an opinion in confidential cabinet
note. We are to find out from them in what context it
was offered. All the facts are not with the party with
regard to those documents.
On the question of the role of Shri Abhishek Manu
Singhvi in this issue, Smt. Natarajan said that Shri
Abhishek Singhvi’s role has absolutely no connection
with the party. Whatever he did, he did as a lawyer. It
has absolutely no connection with the conviction and
determination of the Congress Party to ensure that the
guilty be brought to book and such disaster never
happens in future.
On the question of Congress Party’s stand on the
involvement of Rajiv Government, Smt. Natarajan said I,
categorically, on behalf of my party, deny any
involvement of the Central Government.
On the question why Congress Party is not asking Arjun
Singh to come out with the facts, Smt. Natarjan said
that my party will come out with whatever facts are
being necessary in due course whenever we feel it is
necessary. I am saying steps are being taken and you are
to wait and see. I am not guessing or second guessing
the agenda of the GOM.
Tom Vadakkan
Secretary, AICC
