Press Briefing
Wednesday, 11th May 2011
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan addressed the media
today.
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan said we would like to
condemn the statement and press conference held
by Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi yesterday where he
has finally and completely placed the last nail
in the coffin of the Public accounts Committee
by politicizing, destroying one of the most
important parliamentary institutions – in one
sense the watchdog of the finances of the
government. During his previous period as
Chairman of the PAC Dr. Joshi had already
destroyed the credibility of the committee by
functioning on a partisan basis by briefing the
media every day after meetings of the committee
although that is not a normal practice and by
turning the entire event into political one
upmanship. Although the rules clearly state that
the majority views of the committee is taken on
any question, he still submitted a rejected
report, which is not a report at all, full of
falsehood and inaccuracy to the Speaker and to
cap it all, yesterday, after being reappointed
as Chairman of the PAC once again, he has
totally destroyed his own position which should
be a non-partisan Chairman by attacking the
Congress party and some other parties for
raising issues regarding the previous report
which now stands rejected. He has talked about
issues which are totally outside the purview of
the PAC including the status of these parties in
Uttar Pradesh and other places and it is now a
matter of doubt for us whether we can any longer
repose any faith in him to carry out his duties
in an impartial, free and fair manner. We
condemn the remarks made by Dr. Murli Manohar
Joshi in no uncertain terms particularly the
remarks which did not relate to affairs which
were before the Public Accounts Committee and we
condemn the fact that by making the remarks
public, he has rendered untenable his position
as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. We
always knew that being a party without any
serious issue except communal and divisive
politics, the BJP resolved to denigrating
institutions whether it was the President of
India or the Chief Election Commissioner, now
the office of the Chairman of the Public
Accounts Committee. So, we condemn these remarks
of Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi and demand that he
apologizes to Parliament and to Speaker who has
appointed him and withdraw these remarks which
were made against the functioning and the
Members of the Public Accounts Committee which
is a continuing body.
On the question as to whether the Congress party
wanted Dr. Joshi to resign, Smt. Natarajan said
that all issues will be raised in the committee.
Whatever needs to be done, we will raise in the
Committee. Smt. Natarajan said I am merely
condemning his statement. He has not yet called
for a meeting. We will take up this issue at
various levels. I am speaking both as National
Spokesperson of the Congress Party and as a
Member of the Public Accounts Committee.
Whatever steps we take, will be done in the
committee. We certainly have full respect for
the Speaker’s decision. However, Dr. Joshi has
rendered his position as untenable by holding
the press conference yesterday.
On a question that Mr. Ram Niwas Mirdha as JPC
Chairman did the same thing as done by Dr.
Joshi, Smt. Natarajan said there is a huge
distinction. Yesterday, Dr. Joshi converted his
press conference into a political exercise which
Mr. Mirdha did not do. Smt. Natarajan further
said, she too, chairs a committee and I brief
the media whenever we are ready with a report.
However, Dr. Joshi converted it into a political
side-show where he attacked Members of the UPA
and others who oppose his point of view and we
condemned it even at that point of time.
Yesterday’s press conference crossed all
boundaries because he talked about issues which
are completely extraneous to the Public Accounts
Committee; he talked about the stand of the
Congress party in Uttar Pradesh, he talked about
who supports whom in UP, he talked as a
Spokesperson of the BJP and not as a Chairman of
the PAC.
To a question over the reaction of the Congress
party over the statement of Shri Digvijay Singh
and the visit and mode of travel of Shri Rahul
Gandhi to Greater Noida, Smt. Natarajan said
Shri Rahul Gandhi has visited Greater Noida to
understand the issues of the farmers. Regarding
what Shri Digvijay Singh said yesterday, media
will have to ask him because she is not aware
what he said yesterday. At this point of time I
am only aware that Shri Rahul Gandhi has gone
there. I am not aware of the further plan of
action. General Secretary In-charge of Uttar
Pradesh can brief the media better on this
issue. Smt. Natarajan further said I think there
is no ban on travelling on a motor cycle and I
feel that it was a very effective method
employed by Shri Rahul Gandhi in understanding
at first hand the problem of the farmers and I
not believe that any other leader from the
opposition would actually take the trouble to
understand at first hand the problems of the
farmers. She also added that Shri Rahul Gandhi
said in Greater Noida today that the land of the
farmers should not be acquired for private use
and the farmers should be paid the market rate
for their land. The Bill for amendment in Land
Acquisition Act is also pending in the
Parliament and it should be passed.
On the question of the role of the central
government in addressing the farmers’ problem,
Smt. Natarajan said that central government
cannot do anything in four days on a state
subject. The central government is not
responsible for firing on farmers. We don‘t
expect the opposition parties to say anything
else and we don’t expect admiration from them.
On the question of the reaction of the Congress
party over Supreme Court’s verdict on the issue
of Bhopal gas tragedy, Smt. Natarajan said we
have not studied the contents of the exact
judgment and will not be in a position to
comment on the same.
(Tom Vadakkan)
Secretary, AICC
