Press Briefing Wednesday, 18th May 2011

Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan addressed the media today.

On the question of the reaction of the Congress party over different versions emerging from various quarters on Bhatta–Parsaul incident, Smt. Natarajan said I would like you to refer to footage of what our General Secretary Shri Rahul Gandhi said and requested media to kindly quote him correctly. What Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji said was that there was a pile of ash 70 feet in diameter and therefore, it should be enquired into and we have asked for a judicial enquiry. Therefore, our demand was and continues to be that the matter should be deeply probed and there should be a judicial enquiry. We stand by that demand. Smt. Natarajan further said unless there is a judicial enquiry, we would not know what exactly has happened. Whatever representations were made to him is what he has repeated. We do not understand why there should be a hesitation in ordering an enquiry into the matter to ascertain what happened.

Smt. Natarajan also added that whatever our General Secretary Shri Rahul Gandhi has said, please look at that footage. He has asked for an enquiry. If there are allegations, an enquiry will prove it to be right or wrong.

On another question whether two Ministers of State from Puducherry and Tamil Nadu have resigned taking moral responsibility for the defeat of the Congress party in the states, Smt. Natarajan said I am not at all aware of these reports.

To another question whether Shri Rahul Gandhi is emerging from youth leader to kisan leader, Smt. Natarajan said Shri Rahul Gandhi is a national leaders and he is a youth icon and leader of the Congress party - somebody who believes in transforming democracy from grass root upwards.

On another question on the question of the reaction of the Congress party for change in the stance of the Karnataka Governor, Smt. Natarajan said I am not aware whether he was hostile in first place or whether he is sensitive now.

To another question over the goof up by the government over the inclusion of the name of a person in wanted list submitted to Pakistan, Smt. Natarajan said it is a serious matter. It should not have happened and we are told that the Home Ministry will conduct a very deep and thorough probe in to the matter to ascertain why did this mistake happen?



(Tom Vadakkan)
Secretary, AICC