Press Briefing Friday, 20th May 2011

Shri Abhishek Singhvi addressed the media today.

On the question of the reaction of the Congress party on the fresh goof up in the list of the most wanted persons’ list, Shri Singhvi said the Congress party does not, in any manner, support or justify what might have happened in respect of the lists of the most wanted criminals. Of course, it is a serious matter and it does require to be gone into. The government and the government’s relevant departments are going in great detail both to fix responsibility and to prevent recurrence.

To another question on the reaction of the Congress party over the arrest of Ms. Kanimozhi and whether it will have any impact on the alliance, Shri Singhvi said I do not think it is necessary for a political party to comment upon on on-going judicial proceedings involving the merits of individual cases. This is a matter between the accused person concerned, the relevant court and the lawyers concerned. All parties have legal rights and recourse to appropriate appellate remedies and it is certainly not, in any manner, for the Congress party to comment upon. You can rest assure that this being an individual matter between investigative agencies and accused person, there is absolutely no connection with or impact on the alliance which continues as we have said earlier as before.

On the question of the reaction of the Congress party on BJP demanding the resignation of the Home Minister over the goof up galore, Shri Singhvi said I have already said what I wanted to say about the lists. I do not subscribe to the adjectives used by the media. That process of looking into it with all seriousness and earnestness is on-going. I am not here to give you a verdict or a result before verdict. We do not run the government according to the BJP. We certainly are looking into it in a serious way and we will let you know the outcome of our enquiries. He further said that media is announcing premature verdicts and results. It is precisely an exercise in fact finding going on. Let us first find out how this happened, how this should not have happened and how this should not happen in future and only then we will respond. There is no question of giving knee-jerk reactions either at the instance of the opposition or anyone else.



(Tom Vadakkan)
Secretary, AICC