Press Briefing Wednesday, 17 June 2009

Shri Manish Tewari addressed the media today.


Shri Manish Tewari said that it was unfortunate on the part of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister to call the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi - a man whose thinking had given rise to non-violent revolutions from South Africa to Poland and whose birthday is even celebrated as 'International Non-violence day' by the United Nations - "a natakbaaz".

Shri Manish Tewari said that the UP Chief Minister's statements had hurt the sentiments of millions of people who adore Mahatma Gandhi as their role model and try to follow his principles, not only in India but across the world. The comments made by the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister on Shri Rahul Gandhi previously were unwarranted but her statements on 'The Father of the Nation' goes a step beyond and just represents the low standards to which Mayawati's political debate has fallen to, he said.

Shri Manish Tewari said that the Congress Party would like to advise the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh that whenever she makes statements on such personalities whose lives and deeds have found a place in the nation's consciousness, she should exercise restraint on her tone and choice of words. He said that the Congress party once again wished to tell the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh that she should withdraw her irresponsible statements and should immediately issue an apology to all Indians and persons the world over, whose sentiments had been hurt.

To a question which implied that the UP Chief Minister was only exercising her constitutional right to freedom of speech while making the above statements on Mahatma Gandhi, Shri Manish Tewari said that Article 19 of the Indian constitution guarantees 'freedom of speech' but with reasonable restrictions. This article does not provide an absolute right to any person howsoever high he or she may be to defame personalities who are respected all over the country.

To a question on the allegation by the Left parties that the TMC and the Congress party are responsible for whatever is transpiring in West Bengal, Shri Manish Tewari said that there was a saying in English which goes as follows - 'when you sow the wind, you reap the whirlwind' and this would best describe the situation in West Bengal. Shri Manish Tewari further said that there was no "Lokshahi" in West Bengal for the last 32 years rather there was "Cadreshahi". He added that the situation in Lal Garh was a direct consequence of the misrule by the Left parties and that there was a need for the leaders of the Left parties to introspect.

On the question that the Lal Garh retaliation was being led by Naxalites, Shri Manish Tewari said that two wrongs did not make a right. He added that it was the responsibility of a lawfully constituted State government to ensure the protection of every citizen. Therefore, the state government of West Bengal could not abdicate that responsibility. He added that the situation in Lal Garh had not been created over-night. It was the result of the continuing subversion of democracy which the Left front Government had institutionalized over the last three decades in West Bengal.

On the question that this current spell of "Cadreshahi" was being supported by the Congress and the TMC, Shri Manish Tewari said that he rejected this allegation with the contempt it deserves. He added that the Congress party was a party committed to non-violence and the supreme constitutional ideals.

To the question on whether he was suggesting that Article 355-356 be imposed, Shri Manish Tewari said that he did not suggest that. All he said was that if the Left Front was unable to run the affairs of government in accordance with the constitutional mandate then they should seriously consider stepping down and resigning from office.

To a question that this issue of systematic subversion of democracy by the Left parties had never been raised when the Leftists were providing outside support to the previous UPA government for the last 5 years, Shri Manish Tewari said that this was incorrect and he could draw attention to a number of statements issued by him in this regard previously.

To a question that with Naxalism being described by the Prime Minister as the biggest problem confronting India would he apply the same standards and say that other states facing Naxalite violence were also indulging in subversion of democracy, Shri Manish Tewari said that the reason why a particular state of affairs prevailed in a particular State or part of the country was because of qualitatively different reasons. The situation in Jharkhand or parts of Orissa or some other State was because of a different set of circumstances he said. He added that the recent happenings in West Bengal, especially in the case of Lalgarh or parts of East Midnapore District was a direct result of the policies which have been pursued by the Left Front over the last three decades. Therefore, one could not apply the same standards to qualitatively different situations.

To a question on reports that a team of the US Committee for International Religion Freedom was about to visit India on 12th of June but the visit had been knowingly denied by the Government of India, Shri Manish Tewari said that it would be far more appropriate if this question could be directed to the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs. He added that he did not even know whether the report which has come out was a correct one or not and that the Ministry of External Affairs would be in a better position to clarify on this.

To a question on whether the Congress party had anything to say over the spate of resignations in the BJP, Shri Manish Tewari said that it had been the policy of the Congress party not to comment on the internal affairs of other political parties and that continues to be the policy even today.

To a question on the statement made by NCP's Chagan Bhujbal that the Congress party was going to contest the forthcoming assembly elections alone in Maharashtra, Shri Manish Tewari said that he had not heard of any such statement. If at all any such statement was issued, then it would be analyzed and appropriate comments would be made. Shri Manish Tewari further said that NCP had been the ally of the Congress party for the last 10 years in Maharashtra and is an ally in the Central Government and that is where the situation stands as of today. Hence there was no change in the status quo.




(Tom Vadakkan)

Secretary, AICC