Press Briefing Wednesday, 12th January 2011

Shri Abhishek Singhvi addressed the media today.

Shri Abhishek Singhvi said those who live in glass house should not throw stones on others. The BJP is a negative and a regressive force in this country. It has always practiced the art of preaching without practice. It has consistently followed the principle of seeking power by creating divisiveness. Our friendly advice is, please learn to be patient. You lost one 5 year mandate. You lost a second 5 year mandate. We have a mandate to continue. Do not try to short-circuit political mandates by cheap politics. The country seeks to know e.g. in the light of what the BJP’s General Secretary has said yesterday, what is the account of the crores of rupees documented by judgments spent on the Bofors case and what do they have to show. What is the result of the crores of rupees spent in pursuing this case and the result in 8 years of their rule alone - 8 years of non congress rule? Did they get any conviction, then why are they repeatedly using phrases and making allegations, which even to their knowledge are untrue? The country equally wants to know which single conclusion they have achieved in 8 years, which single conviction they achieved in 4 courts in Malaysia. The very same person, who has made the allegation, was the Hon’ble Law Minister. Under his direct supervision, Malaysian proceedings were conducted. It is time to remind the BJP of the words used by the Delhi High Court. Just note paragraphs – 104, 106 and 114. We are amused to find that the Learned Additional Solicitor General, who conducted the proceedings in a recent television show, supposedly, said that arguments, which he had not made, were attributed to him in that judgment. We are glad that he remembered this fact after 6 years in 2010.

At Para 104, this judgment says, it is not the case of CBI that moneys received by the alleged agents have been passed on either directly or indirectly to Mr. Rajiv Gandhi and yet the BJP session in Guwahati and yet the General Secretary yesterday said this is an attempt at misinformation. Para 106 says that there is no evidence on record to suggest that either Mr. Rajiv Gandhi or others used indirect or direct influence on anybody including technical committee, army experts and so on and so forth. Para 114 says that there is no allegation against Mr. Rajiv Gandhi that he either participated in the price negotiation committee or gave any opinion on the quality of gun etc. On these findings, in Feb 2004, under the direct supervision of the Hon’ble Law Minister, who has pursued this great zeal for 23 years, but unfortunately pursued it only in the Press, no attempt was made to file an appeal for 90 days – all this under NDA rule. So do not make excuses or mislead. And this is the moral authority of a party to ask this question and to poke fun, when they, what is their identity. They on one day give a clean chit to the RSS - just a couple of days ago and on another day, they endorse Mr. Yeddyuruppa and distribute ‘laddoos’ and virtually reappoint him. What about the great silence – the eloquent silence – in Uttarakhand where their sitting Chief Minister has been accused, among other things, of corruption in 56 major Hydro-electric Power projects. One of the allegations is of grossly underselling 15 acres of industrial land worth about Rs. 400 crores to a real estate developer for a princely sum of Rs. 3 crores. Can the BJP forget the sight of their own President demanding money on candid camera? Have they forgotten these famous words – acronyms – Coffin scam, HUDCO scam, land-allotment scam and they are the ones who talk with a straight face about the most corrupt, yes, this government is the ‘most’ but it is the first in taking action in the smallest of the biggest case whenever it comes to light. We are not here to list you corruption issues. We believe that this is a serious matter. Wherever credible evidence is there, we take action. I got to ask, in all the examples I have given, what is the action taken by the BJP? Today, the NDA is in ruins and tatters. Most people do not know whether NDA exists or not as a non-coalition alliance. Amidst its ‘khandhars’of the NDA, the BJP is trying to resurrect itself by misleading the people. The same statement which sought to attack us on corruption also talked of economics and economic talent in this government. Are they trying to preach economics to us as well and, let me just tell you, that the highest growth rate during their time average growth was the lowest during our time. That is the economics we preach. That is the economics we practice but that is the economics we achieve. Yes, as a responsible government, we are much more concerned than them about price rise. We are not here to run away from price rise. We are doing everything in our power, the government is doing, and you have seen special sales by special shops, raids and concrete action. There are further material and actions happening today as we speak. That does not mean that the BJP gets the moral right to lecture us on either corruption or how to manage the economy. When India is the toast of the world as far as economic progress and growth is concerned, the BJP is telling us about where to hunt and get economic talent. The BJP has never had any moral, constitutional, public or political right to lecture to us. Would they even consider any of them stepping down on the basis of Swamy Aseemanand’s confession which lays bare a very unholy nexus between the brand of thought propagated by BJP and its several allies or allied organizations. No, you have only either silence or active total endorsement and every attempt is made to criticize all and sundry to side-track the real issue. This is the real face of the BJP which is attempting to divert the attention- both in terms of their socially divisive, economically average performance and huge consisted inaction on corruption.

To a question over the statement of NCP – the coalition partner in UPA Government – on the price rise issue and also the reaction of the NCP on the remarks of Shri Rahul Gandhi, Shri Singhvi said, let me make it clear, that there is or there are a set of completely wrong and erroneous reports in the press. Mr. Rahul Gandhi has never said anything of the sort ascribed to him. Mr. Rahul Gandhi, in answer to a closed door – not open to the press, session, in which the press were allowed in for about 2 minutes and 50 seconds, discussed price. He pointed out, among other things, the steps central government has taken but more important the steps which the state governments has to take, the international global scenario and the various concrete steps taken by the government. At no point, did he refer to any coalition partner, to the NCP or to Mr. Sharad Pawar. He has been misquoted and misreported. If you will read one of the reports, it is clear that the report is purportedly based on the purported getting or garnishing of that conversation from students who were present. In any event, we propose to write to the few publications concerned to clarify and seek the clarification and therefore, the question does not arise. Obviously, the reaction, which you have quoted, is based on facts which are not correct.

On another question as to why did they make strong comments against Mr. Rahul Gandhi without actually clarifying the facts, Shri Singhvi said because they tend to believe some of the press reports which you published.

On another question as to why did Mr. Rahul Gandhi take 24 hours to deny his statement, Shri Singhvi said there is no question of hours. Let it be 48 hours. It makes no difference. There is a clarification you have. You want instant coffee. People are doing some other work also than issuing clarification. Shri Singhvi further said let me ask you, why did you publish a false report in the first place.

To another question whether the Congress party is satisfied with Mr. Pawar’s handling of the price rise situation, Mr. Singhvi said we are not now, not earlier whenever the spikes occur, although they are temporary and seasonal, there is no question of ever being satisfied as a nation or as a government. We have said that this is unfortunate and every possible human action is taken multi-pronged. During the last 2-3 days, there are 48 special new outlets created. There are import attempts. There are very strong raids and concrete physical actions we have taken. More material is going to be available today, I am told. It is not that nobody is concerned. But equally to indulge in false rumor or a kind of a mis-statement or mis-information campaign whether by BJP or by misreporting, is completely wrong.

To another related question as to whether it is fair to blame only Mr. Pawar for price-rise, Shri Singhvi said I never blamed. On the contrary, you have just blamed. You are the persons who want me to blame. I have never blamed.

To another question as to why there is lack of coordination between the allies that they counter check with one another and whether isit not shameful, Shri Singhvi said first of all the press should introspect within them. If they are misreporting, they should not make further comments on the same. Shri Sinhgvi further said that first you will have a shamefully wrong report and then you call it shameful.

On another question on ‘Hindu terror’ in light of Swamy Aseemanand’s confession and whether the innocents will be released now, Shri Singhvi said I do not agree with that phrase and further added that no such blanket approaches are possible as premised in your question. Secondly, there is no such reaction generally talking of one category or another category, the Congress looks at it case by case and certainly if there is innocence in any case credibly established, absolutely the benefits and fruits of innocence must accrue. But our stand is that innocence or guilt is individual. Whether it is actuated by extremism or fundamentalism of this side or that side, of this religion or that religion, we unequivocally condemn it all, and we would take action whether to punish or to release depending on individual guilt or individual innocence. Shri Singhvi further said there is a procedure in law. Of course, an innocent person deserves justice and let me tell you that if for offence ‘A’, Mr. ‘X’ is languishing in jail and Mr. ‘Y’ is prima-facie found guilty, then there is a simple procedure by an application by which Mr. ‘X’ can seek discharge. So, please do not have a doubt about that.

On the question of the reaction of the Congress party on the statement of Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Shri Singhvi said I can only say, as far as I know, that gentlemen do not give threats or equally if gentlemen give threats, they carry out their threats. Shri Singhvi further said that it is an empty threat. You can rest assured that there is absolutely nothing of the sort unnecessarily being spread whether by rumors or by threats. We are not sure of the number of MLAs attending Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s dharna. Appropriate action will be taken at appropriate time.

On another question whether the entire government is collectively responsible for 18.4% flood-inflation, Shri Singhvi said I am saying neither of the two. I have already clarified.

On the reaction of the Congress party over the statement of Mr. P. Chidambaram that there is no tool with the government to control the inflation, Shri Singhvi said that he has never said so. He only said that it is a complex problem. It does not mean that we are not taking it seriously. Government is taking multi-pronged steps and you will soon see in near future the results of such multi-pronged steps.

On the question of ‘battle’ between Mr. Chidambaram and Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia on the fight against Naxals, Shri Singhvi said you are referring to a news report. That report refers to the letter you are talking about. My simple answer is, please do not consider every honest exchange of communication, every bonafide sincere difference of approach to what you call a ‘fight’ or altercation, otherwise governance or good governance will come to a stop. This is the normal dialectics of governance where views, counter-views, third views or fourth views not only are put but must be put. If they are not put, you cannot have proper policy making and decision making. Every time such views are put, you do not want zombie like uniformity and unanimity. Let me assure you, this is part of good governance which this government believes in.

On the question of hoisting of tri-colour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar by the BJP, Shri Singhvi said I do not want to say anything because I am not irresponsible either like this extreme or like that extreme political colour for the simple reason that unnecessarily provocative statements of situations we do not require a statement, should not be made by any responsible political entity to queer the pitch. We have very sincere efforts going on. There is no need for me to try to add to the unnecessary confusion.



Tom Vadakkan
Secretary, AICC