Press Briefing Friday, 15th April 2011

Shri Abhishek Singhvi addressed the media today.

Shri Abhishek Singhvi said the Congress party applauds several initiatives taken in the recent past in the foreign policy arena to improve the relations, not only with our neighbors but to enhance India’s footprint globally, to reconnect with those with whom we share synergies and policy perspectives and to strengthen India domestically and internationally. India has steadfastly cautioned against unilateralism, howsoever grave the provocation, especially where use of force involving crossing of boundaries arises. We are, therefore, happy to note that the joint declaration at Brics gathering in China largely endorses that old established principled Indian stand that use of force unilaterally across sovereignties, sovereign boundaries, is not acceptable in the specific context of Libya which also was discussed there. Secondly, despite saying so, India has also equally steadfastly supported the democratic aspirations of the local populations in several areas including Libya, as is natural for the world’s largest democracy to do, and India has specifically recognized the centre of gravity shifting in favor of the spirit of democracy. Again, this has also found resonance in the Brics joint declaration. Thirdly, such regional gatherings have promoted and enhanced, have given a significant fillip to Indian initiatives in trade and commerce. India is, therefore, proudly being recognized in its rightful place as one of the world’s foremost economic, cultural, social and political entities. Fourthly, and this is very important, in contrast to earlier formulations, this time there is a special recognition of the urgent need for reform of the Security Council mentioned specifically by name, earlier it was generally United Nations and India’s legitimate expectations in that regard are well known and had been articulated several times and again there is a specific recognition of the same. Fifthly, there has been by China, a very specific recognition and more importantly a willingness to be flexible and to discuss all aspects of the stapled visa issue, apart from of course, not using that technique for members of the present delegation from Jammu & Kashmir. Sixthly, without in any manner, compromising India’s established stand on terrorism, on national security, on all related issues to that, in auditory attempt to improve relations with Pakistan. The basic object of such initiatives is to provide a healing touch to the issues of the sufferings of the ‘aam-aadmi’, the common man who when caught in the cross-fire of nations, is indeed a worst sufferer. We are, therefore, happy to note that 89 fishermen from the lowest strata of society in the very recent past have been released. There are other cases like Gopal Das case, after several decades etc. and finally it is easy for the BJP and for some other sections to try and be populist or jingoistic but for those who govern, who have a stake in the system, which have to find solutions, such initiatives and more importantly such human approaches are necessary for the general welfare of innocent members of the civil society whose practical problems are more important than the static of the ego of sovereign disputes or sovereign rhetoric. We, therefore, hope and trust that better sense will prevail in opposition quarters.

To a question over the favoritism and nepotism shown by Rajasthan Chief Minister in favor of the companies where his son is working, Shri Singhvi said the media had raised this issue yesterday and you had the Chief Minister himself clarifying. If there is anything specific or if there is anything which is culpable, certainly it can be brought into the realm of the public domain but at the moment unless you have something new, I think he has given a very categorical clarification and he himself has always said that he is always open to any other kind of inputs. So, I would suggest that there is no point speculating at this stage. There is nothing more for us to say because he has given a clarification.

On the question of the reaction of the Congress party over the members belonging to the Congress party in the PAC raising the issue that there is no need for PAC when JPC has been constituted and whether the Congress party endorses their stand, Shri Singhvi said there is no question of endorsing. There is one committee, it is a joint committee. There is no question of us commenting on individual members. It is the running and the administration of that committee by those members themselves and by the Chairman but I have no option but to repeat two points in brief. One – when we cried from the roof tops that a PAC and JPC will inevitably have jurisdictional clashes, multiplicity, over lapse. These very persons accused us of obstinacy and delay. Today, the chickens are coming home to roost. The mater is turning full circle. A committee chaired by a Leader of the Opposition is itself finding a very clear overlap and a jurisdictional challenge. It is for them to resolve ultimately. We have nothing to say. Two committees have to resolve it amongst themselves, between themselves and ultimately if at all there can be external interference, it can be only by the Speaker.

On the question of the reaction of the Congress party over the public statement made by Shri V. Narainsamy in a public rally in Puducherry, Shri Singhvi said the elections in Tamilnadu are over. Let us wait for the results. However, the Congress party does not change its established articulated stand that all public discourse, election discourse, debate has to be in respectable parliamentary and civilized language. That general principle does not change. Secondly, as far as disciplinary action within our party is concerned, please kindly leave it to us. It is for us to decide the timing and the nature and certainly we will exercise that according to our own understanding. If somebody is displeased, it has nothing to do as far as we are concerned. There is no question of reacting to outsiders as far as our intra-party disciplinary matters are concerned.

On the reaction of the Congress party over the sting operation where former PCC President Hans Pal was trying to influence to change the statement at the behest of Shri Sajjan Kumar, Shri Singhvi said this is a matter which is heavily subjudiced as far as all and all every aspect of Mr. Sajjan Kumar’s case is concerned. Even today every aspect is under the active consideration of not only the lower courts but by the superior courts also. Therefore, every input of this kind including this one, must itself will go there. We are not commenting either way. We are certainly not giving any ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ answer or a clean chit or a black chit. These are the matters for the appropriate courts to consider. If it is found that these are relevant, the court will look into it.

On the reaction of the Congress party over the allegation made by Shri Karthik Chidambaram - son of Shri P. Chidambaram - that the local State Congress President Mr. Thangakabalu has acted against his workers without following the rules & regulations, Shri Singhvi said he is fully entitled to protest and complain to the appropriate committees. In the event, it is found that action taken is not according to rules & regulations, we will look into it but this is entirely an intra-party matter. You can rest assured; we will sort it out not only at the centre level but at the state level also.

On another question of profiling of Christians in Madhya Pradesh, Shri Singhvi said it is very worrying and a serious thing. But we are reassured at least formally by the official statements of the DG of Police and Deputy DG who has said specifically that we know nothing about it. If that is so and they are not doing it, which is the statement which we have heard, then one can understand. Otherwise it is an extremely serious matter. Racial, religious, ethnic or personal profiling is not permitted unless authorized under some special law for some special reason. In the event that the press reports about the Director General or the Dy. Director General of Police are wrong, then I think the State government is culpable in a big way. If they have not already stopped, it must be stopped forthwith. That is the official stand of these two functionaries which has come in the public press domain.

On another question of cross voting by BJP MLAs in J&K, Shri Singhvi said a loser who has no status and identity in J&K, who could not even get the votes which it has, a loser who constantly sensationalizes and obstructs settlements and mediations in that state is now suffering from sour grapes.

To a question what was the status on the request of video graphing the joint meeting of the Lokpal, Shri Singhvi said you want me to do what the committee should be doing tomorrow. I am not going to do premature judgments. I am not going to comment either on procedure or on substance. Our stand has been made clear earlier to you.


(Tom Vadakkan)
Secretary, AICC