Press
Briefing Monday, 17th May 2010
Shri
Manish Tewari addressed the media today.
Shri Manish Tewari said that on 16th of May 2009 - a
year from now - it had become amply clear by the evening
that the Congress Party is emerged as the single largest
political party in the Lok Sabha and the United
Progressive Alliance again formed the Government. In the
past one year, the Government has endeavored to deliver
on the mandate and once the year is formally completed,
we would then present the achievements of the Government
to all of you and the nation. However, today I would
just like to draw your attention to one salient
political passage that has emerged in the past one year
and that is with the Congress Party emerging as the
single largest party. The portence of opportunistic
anti-Congressism in the ranks of opposition has again
become visible. Like in the 1970s and 1980s
ideologically opposed political formations are
attempting to get into various kinds of political
league. It may be recalled that it is exactly this
phenomena in the 1970s and 1980s which has strengthened
the forces of communalism in the country and the decade
of 1990s saw India paying the very price for that. I
would just like to give you three examples which
manifest this strength currently. In the wake of it
becoming amply evident that the alleged organizations
which perpetrated the Malegaon, Mecca Masjid, Modasa and
Ajmer blast belong to the Right Wing RSS ideology except
for the Congress Party the condemnation from the
so-called secular parties has been extremely muted. In
the wake of the exposé connected with the Shri Ram Sena
as to how they were ranked Right; again it was found
that the so-called secular opposition parties were
missing in action. It does not stop at that. Two leaders
of the Left Parties went to the doors of the Leader of
the Opposition ostensibly to ventilate what they think
is the world view but which was unfortunately or
fortunately rejected way back in 1990. While on one hand
this is an acknowledgement of the pre-eminent position
of the Congress Party in the political spectrum of the
country. On the other hand it raises certain vital
important questions and those questions are that would
these so-called secular parties care to enlighten the
nation, that in their perception, is the challenge of
communalism over and done with. The so-called secular
parties who are prepared to make opportunistic alliances
with the fundamental organizations, would they care to
enlighten the country as to why they are prepared to
sacrifice secularism at the altar of the opportunistic
anti-Congressism and the reason why it has become
important is because this nation must know that once
again the responsibility for safeguarding secularism,
safeguarding India’s cultural heritage and most
importantly the idea of India has again devolved
probably only on the Congress Party.
On the question that the attack is more on the Left
Parties than the RSS, Shri Tewari said that insofar as
our opinion about the RSS or the organizations which are
connected with it is concerned, it has been made amply
clear by my colleague, who have interacted with you on
various occasions from this podium, but allow me to
reiterate that possibly the time has come for the
Government to holistically look at the entire web of
inter-connected organizations - be it the Abhinav Bharat
or be it the Ram Sena - as to where do they fit into the
larger RSS pantheon and the reason I say this is because
the various incidents which I have elucidated - all
happened in the lead up to the elections to the 15th Lok
Sabha and there was a clear pre-mediated design to
polarize the country for electoral benefit. So
considering that, it is extremely logical as to who
possibly was the intended beneficiary, there is a need
to look at this whole nexus.
To a question that though the links of the Sanathan
Sanstha with RSS has not been established, what is the
reaction of the Congress Party, Shri Tewari said that he
has already replied this question in the foregoing para
that all such organizations who have links with the RSS,
their relations with them should be probed at the time
when it has amply become clear that the purpose of all
such organizations is polarization of religion in the
country and everyone in the country knows the
beneficiary of such polarization. Shri Tewari further
said that there is need to thoroughly probe this aspect
also.
On the question of the reaction of the Congress Party
over the statement of the Railway Minister holding the
public at large responsible for the stampede at New
Delhi Railway Station, Shri Tewari said that it is very
unfortunate and sad what has happened at New Delhi
Railway Station. We feel sorry for the people who have
lost their lives or were injured in the stampede.
Insofar as the Railway Minister is concerned, she has
already offered her comments on the issue. May be her
statement has not been viewed in the right perspective.
I am of the opinion that Railway authorities should
ensure that this type of incidents do not recur because
it has been the second time in the past five years that
this type of incident has happened. It should be taken
seriously and every possible effort should be taken to
avoid recurrence of such incidents.
On the question of the reaction of the Congress Party on
filing of the Charge Sheet by the NIA, Shri Tewari said
that my colleague Dr. Shakeel Ahmed, who interacted with
you on Friday from this podium, had very emphatically in
the context of Ram Sena called for a ban and any
organization which is found to be involved in any acts
of terror deserves to be banned and there is no
ambiguity about that. Shri Tewari further said that with
all this body of evidence emerging, there is need to
look at those linkages very closely and I do not think
it would be appropriate for me to second guess an
investigation and if the investigation comes to a
certain conclusion, then whatever is the logical action,
would automatically follow.
On the issue of the BJP wanting to know the mystery
behind Delhi Chief Minister’s letter to Home Minister
with regard to Afzal Guru, Shri Tewari said that we have
made our stand amply evident from this podium and our
stand is that law must take its own course and I think
the Home Minister after assuming charge has put in place
a process whereby he is attempting to process one death
penalty clemency case a month and send it to the
President. He has made this evident on various
occasions. Therefore, there is a process which has been
put in place and I do not think there is a need for me
to add length to address the reason for delay because at
one point in time - in 2008 - we had gone over those
reasons. There is a back log which has been created. It
goes back to 1997 and therefore that is why a process is
logically and systematically followed.
On another question over the situation in Manipur, Shri
Tewari said that the Government is seized of the matter
and it is also seized of the seriousness of the
situation. I believe the Chief Minister was in town
recently and he has had very extensive interaction with
the high echelons of the UPA and therefore, the
seriousness and the sensitivity is not lost upon the
Government and every effort is being made to see that
the situation in Manipur normalizes at the earliest.
On the reaction of the Congress Party on the political
situation in Bihar, Shri Tewari said that there is a
President besides the Working Committee in the Pradesh
Congress and there is General Secretary In-charge of
Bihar affairs in Delhi. There is a complete
coordination. All our attention is focused on the
forthcoming elections in Bihar and we will expose the
misdeeds of the JD(U) and BJP during the last 5 years of
their rule in Bihar.
On another question on the present situation in
Jharkhand, Shri Tewari said that the situation of
political instability in Jharkhand is indicative of the
opportunistic attitude of the BJP. So therefore, it
would be appropriate if this question is put to them
only.
Tom Vadakkan
Secretary, AICC
