Press Briefing Monday, 17th October 2011

Smt. Renuka Chowdhary addressed the media today.

Smt. Renuka Chowdhary wished all a Happy Diwali and said there were many exciting events this week in the last few days and we are all gearing up to make sure Andhra Pradesh is going to give you all power so that it won’t be a black Diwali to have enough lights in the festival of lights of because of the problems we faced. Hopefully things will be back to normal.

On the question of the reaction of the Congress party on Congress party losing in the bye-elections including Hissar and was it Anna effect and how does the Congress party plan to have its strategy, Smt. Chowdhary said first of all the candidate who has won the election in Hissar has himself said that it has nothing to do with Anna effect. We were in the third place last time also. It is not really a Congress strong hold seat that it used to be. I do not know why everyone is getting excited about it. It was only a matter of strategy that Anna’s team to choose this seat. I still think that Kejriwal should have contested this seat. It was his own ‘gaon’. I am only interested in knowing if team Anna will issue a certificate of non-corruption to Mr. Bishnoi and they should stand by it and they should take the responsibility and accountability. Smt. Chowdhary further said that we should wait for the official figures to come out with regard to the margin of victory or defeat. It was a bye-election after the death of father of Mr. Bishnoi and possibly he has got sympathy votes.

In regard to the threat of Anna that he will campaign against the Congress party in UP elections also if Jan Lokpal Bill is not passed in the coming winter session of parliament, Smt. Chowdhary said that we will see it.

Smt. Chowdhary further said I do not know what Anna and his team stand for today. Yesterday some of his volunteers have themselves raised certain objections to his NGO and it would be better if Anna and his team answer their own volunteers first before they talk about us anywhere else.

Smt. Chowdhary added losing in bye-elections does not indicate of what is going to happen in future and further said that democracy has a brilliant way of leveling things. So anyone who assumes positions themselves now will realize it to regret later. She further said in bye-election or any election results, victory or loss are always markers for us for course correction. We will examine the results because it is no pleasure losing an election. We will ensure that we go back to our people, workers and our cadre and strengthen the party so that we go forward with full victory.

On the question of reaction of the Congress party over the statement of Shri Hooda, Chief Minister of Haryana over Hissar bye-election results over the selection of Jat or non-Jat candidate, Smt. Chowdhary said the mathematics of politics that we deal with before and after you file the nominations of various candidates, I do not know the Chief Ministers come with an expiry date but I think Mr. Hooda still has some battery running in it.

On the question of reaction of the Congress party over the remarks of Bihar Chief Minister on the statement of Chief Election Commissioner with regard to Right to Recall, Smt. Chowdhary said we have to draw a line somewhere. We have good Chief Ministers in different states but it does not mean that they are authorities on CEC. Let us leave it to the experts and if the person sitting there feels it is not practical and then we should examine it. If there is anything else to be reversed, it will collectively be examined in assemblies and parliament by the people who participate but no random opinions given casually somewhere else. Smt. Chowdhary said why we should have a stand on hypothetical issues. As of now there is no such Right to Recall.

To a question on the Supreme Court issuing notice to Anna Hazare’s NGO and observing why there should not be a CBI enquiry over the financial results of his Trust, Smt. Chowdhary said that somebody has filed a complaint and the court has taken cognizance of the matter and if the court has taken cognizance of the same, let the law take its own course. Smt. Chowdhary also said that we cannot comment on the observations of the Courts. This matter is already there. I cannot question the Judge’s judgment.

On the question of the reaction of the Congress party over the fact that Shri Rahul Gandhi is planning to meet the Sarpanch of Ralegaon – the native place of Anna – to see how things are happening there, Smt. Chowdhary said what is wrong if our General Secretary meets the people of Ralegaon. We have our voters there also. It is our duty to listen to them and we will discharge our duty and meet the voters there.

To another question on the arrest of Yeddyurappa in Karnataka over corruption charges, Smt. Chowdhary said we should not take the rule of law in our own hands. This is the reason we had been telling from this podium that Mr. Advani should have started his ‘rath yatra’ from Karnataka only.




(Tom Vadakkan)
Secretary, AICC