Press Briefing
Wednesday, 14th September 2011
Shri Manish Tewari addressed the media today.
Shri Manish Tewari said strange competition
seems to have enveloped the BJP. An elderly
gentleman is planning to go on a yatra and
another gentleman is planning to go on a fast.
The last time this elderly gentleman decided to
undertake a yatra, assaulted the secular
foundations of India and we still continue to
pay the price for the same after so many years
and there is another gentleman who is planning a
‘sadbhavna’ fast. Would he care to enlighten the
people that is it not a fact that thousands of
innocent people died on his watch? Is it not a
fact that the state did not lift a single finger
to protect the innocents? Is it not a fact that
the victims of that massacre are still running
from pillar to post for justice? Is it not a
fact that under criminal laws, the onus lies on
the state to prosecute an accused and not on the
victims? Is it not a fact that the only cases in
which the ends of justice have been met are the
ones which were transferred outside the state of
Gujarat? Is it also not a fact, and I do not say
this, that this is what a Supreme Court judgment
had to observe, that the modern day neeros were
looking elsewhere when the best bakery and
innocent people and helpless women were burning.
This is what the Supreme Court of India had
observed in a judgment. Therefore, neither is
this yatra about corruption and nor is this fast
about ‘sadbhavna’. Both are attempted political
positioning which is intrinsic to the BJP. In
all this grandstanding, the real issues of
equity, development and inclusion somewhere get
lost. It is apparent that the lessons of both
2004 and 2009 are completely lost on the BJP.
On the question of the reaction of the Congress
party over the report published from US lauding
the governance of Narendra Modi and has said
that he is a perfect candidate for Prime
Minister and again has compared him to Shri
Rahul Gandhi, Shri Tewari said I do not know as
to which report you are talking about. I have
not perused any such report and even if such a
report was ostensibly to exist, I do not think
it is necessary to dignify it with the response.
Shri Tewari further said that India has not only
emerged powerful right from 1947 onwards, we
know as to how best to safeguard our self-belief
and self-respect and I do not think we need any
certificate from any individual or any country
to that effect.
Shri Tewari further said I think we have more
than a score of think tanks in New Delhi which
have credible international repute and I do not
think that it is essential for a political party
to really be reacting or commenting on every
report which a think tank ostensibly purports to
publish and I would like to caveat it by saying
that I am neither aware of any such report nor I
have perused such report.
On another question on the quantum of honorarium
paid to the hockey players by the Sports
Ministry as a gesture of rewarding them for
winning the Asian Hockey championship and
whether they are not discriminated over the
cricket players, Shri Tewari said since this
matter is concerning the Sports Ministry and
Indian Hockey Federation, we should leave it to
their wisdom and further said it would be
appropriate if such question is directed to the
Hon’ble Sports Minister. Shri Tewari added that
not only the hockey players be treated at par
with the cricket players but the swimmers also
and again said that the Congress ruled states
have not lagged behind in boosting the morale of
the players belonging to various disciplines and
will not lag behind in future also in boosting
their morale.
To a question over declaring the assets by the
central Ministers particularly in case of Shri
Sharad Power which does not seem to be correct
and transparent, Shri Tewari said I have no
information on this and if you have any
knowledge on this, it would be better if this
question is directed to the person concerned.
On the question of reaction of the Congress
party over the interview given by the Home
Minister to BBC in regard to the last week blast
outside the High Court, Shri Tewari said I have
not seen the interview and I do not know in what
context and under what circumstances the Home
Minister has made the statement which you
purport to him but as you all know the Home
Minister is a very cautious man and if at all he
has made a certain statement, I am sure it must
be based upon certain factual evidence which is
in his possession.
On another question on the reaction of the
Congress party over a report that the cricketers
of India and the film stars also have their
accounts in Swiss banks, Shri Tewari said it
would not be appropriate to offer any comment on
the subject unless you have all the information
as to what has been said by which officer. If
they have any such information, they should
share the same with the government of India.
To a question over the existing situation on the
Lokpal Bill since no headway has been made in
the absence of the constitution of the Standing
Committee, Shri Tewari said I think the
appropriate thing to do would be to either refer
this question to the people who are entrusted
with the responsibility of constituting this
committee or to the Chairperson of the Committee
who would in a better position to answer it.
(Tom Vadakkan)
Secretary, AICC
