Press Briefing Monday, 21 Apr 2009

Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan addressed the media today.

Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan said that over the last few weeks, the Indian National Congress has struggled to focus national attention, and that of the electorate, on the urgent and compelling economic and social issues in our polity. To this end, from this forum and from various other fora, we struggled to keep the perspective on important developmental issues, and fundamental issues affecting our polity. On the other hand, the BJP party which is totally devoid of issues and does not have any real matter of substance to attack the excellent record of this UPA Government orchestrated with Mr. Varun Gandhi at the forefront, a calibrated programme of hate speech politics calculated to polarize votes, and cash in upon feelings of enmity between people of different religions. Their next manoeuvre was to launch a vituperative personal abuse campaign against the Prime Minister, but when the Congress party firmly rebutted their charges, the BJP party was unable to sustain the attack.

Smt. Natarajan said that the Indian National Congress is of the view that this election must be fought on substantial issues of development and inclusive growth. Therefore, we have clearly placed before the people, not just our achievements, particularly the substantial fulfillment of the promises made in our 2004 manifesto, but also our vision for the next 5 years. The BJP party’s manifesto, on the other hand, is more remarkable for its omissions, that any discernible or sustainable plan of action to take our democracy forward on the path to progress. It is notable that the three most important pillars of the BJP party’s manifesto, namely the building of the Ram temple, the abolition of Article 370 and the introduction of the Uniform Civil Code have been placed on the back burner by the BJP party itself, as articulated by Shri Advani, during the launch of the BJP party’s manifesto. At that time, Mr. Advani made the very peculiar statement that although the three issues were fundamental to the BJP ethos, they would remain on the back burner, and it would only be the agenda of governance drawn up by the NDA that would represent the vision and plan of action for the BJP and NDA. The first phase of the voting for these elections in over 123 seats have come and gone, but the BJP/NDA have not yet shared this so called agenda for governance with the country. Some news reports suggested that the NDA might release its National Agenda for governance on the 16th April, but nothing has been forthcoming. The country is now ready to go into the second phase of polling, but we have still not seen any concrete plan of action or goals from the BJP party.

Smt. Natarajan further said that, as has been pointed out on earlier occasions, the BJP party’s manifesto itself is a litany of omissions, with the only reasonable portions being directly lifted from the Congress manifesto. Thus, the BJP party’s manifests is silent on the public sector, on industrial development and a host of other vital issues, including what they will substitute for NREGA if as they falsely claim, NREGA has been a flop. Their core issues have already been abandoned by them, and there appears to be no national agenda for governance of the NDA forthcoming.

Smt. Natarajan said that the country is entitled to know, what exactly the BJP party is seeking a mandate for. It is laughable and ludicrous for the BJP party to go into elections without informing the electorate what their plans and vision are. It is very clear from the above that the BJP is devoid of any serious ideas or concrete agenda but has resorted to mudslinging and hate politics in an effort to divert the attention of the people from real issues that confront the nation.

Smt. Natarajan further said that in the absence of any agenda of governance released by the NDA, the BJP party should come clean on its failure to release any common NDA agenda particularly after having made the announcement that such an NDA agenda would be forthcoming. Are there further cracks in an already depleted NDA? Are the remaining NDA allies unwilling to agree on any common ground with the BJP party to the extent of being unable to release a common agenda. Has the current depleted NDA collapsed even before the election process is over, and is this because of the hate politics and untenable remarks made by the BJP leaders? We call upon the BJP party to come clean with the correct facts, and place them before the people of India.

On the question that even the UPA does not have any agenda for governance, Smt. Natarajan said that the Congress party never promised to bring out UPA manifesto and followed the stated policy of the Indian National Congress that we would not have an alliance at the national level. Even the present UPA is a post-poll alliance. Smt. Natarajan said that her statement is with a specific reference to the BJP announcement that there would be a national agenda for governance and in view of the fact that they themselves have put them on the back burner, therefore, what is their stand on crucial issues?

On the question of BJP taking up the issue of price rise, Smt. Natarajan said that yesterday the Indian National Congress has released the entire paper on the economy. Therefore, whatever statistics the BJP party is giving, are totally incorrect. The economy is still extremely sound and whatever steps need to be taken to control the rise in prices of some commodities and some items of daily use, are being taken by the Government on daily basis. The entire picture about the economy in view of the BJP party’s false propaganda, we have already released a statement yesterday.

Smt. Natarajan further said that there is no question of job losses. For the most disadvantaged section of our society, the Congress-led UPA Government has generated employment to 4.3 crore through NREGA. In private sector, those job losses have occurred due to global recession. In our manifesto, we have promised to take steps in this direction. Those steps will be taken.

On the question of cancellation of Smt. Sonia Gandhi’s Bihar tour, Smt. Natarajan said that she had another urgent pressing engagement that is why she had to come back. She has sent senior leader like Shri Pranab Mukherjee.

On the question of Shri Lalu Prasad making a statement that Prime Minister will be selected after the elections by the UPA allies, Smt. Natarajan said that there are many statements which are made in the heat of elections. Mr. Lalu Prasad is undoubtedly feeling the experience in view of the resurgence of the Congress party in Bihar. She further added that after the elections, Dr. Manmohan Singh will be UPA’s Prime Ministerial candidate.

On the question whether post-poll alliance will be opportunistic in view of Mr. Lalu Prasad holding the Congress responsible for the demolition of the Babri masjid, Smt. Natarajan said that we will come together on the basis of secular agenda. He is already a member of our UPA and he has parted ways due to the differences in the seat sharing arrangement. If we come together later, depending upon what the post poll scenario is, there is nothing official to state in the event that has happened.

On the question of Sri Lankan Government issuing an ultimatum to LTTE, Smt. Natarajan said that the Indian National Congress is deeply concerned about the fate of the innocent civilian Srilankan Tamils. We would expect the Government, which is doing the utmost possible, to take care of the welfare and safety of the civilians who are being trapped over there by already making a distinction between the LTTE and the civilians.

Smt. Natarajan further said that Shri Pranab Mukherjee has already asked the Srilankan Government to bring about the cessation of hostilities to allow the civilians who are trapped in the conflict zone to move into the no firing zone and the Srilankan Government accordingly obliged. She further said that since January more than 1,40,000 civilians have come out of the conflict zone. During the last few days about 40,000 have come out of the conflict zone to the no-fire zone. Our team of 63 Doctors has been of great help in a medical centre to all the people there. Our food packets are reaching the people there. Our concerns for the civilians shall continue. The Indian National Congress also calls upon our Government to request the Srilankan Government to ensure the cessation of hostilities so that the innocent civilians who are trapped in the conflict zone may be brought to safety.

On the question of doubting the credibility of the Election Commission, Smt. Natarajan said that this is an issue which the BJP has raised for its own political purposes - raised it to a high pitch crescendo and the matter has already reached a peak. Smt. Natarajan said that at least now they should allow the Election Commission to discharge its constitutional responsibilities of conducting free and fair elections.

On the question of a Lawyer raising the issue of black money in the Hon’ble Apex Court, Smt. Natarajan said that Government has already taken every possible step to ensure that whatever money is illegally parked in foreign banks should be brought back to the country. Shri Pranab Mukherjee has made the statement that whatever steps have been taken by the Government, including the exchange of letters, is remarkable. The NDA which did nothing, when they were in power for 6 years, to take any such step, is making a big issue out of something which our Government is already acting upon over which there is no disagreement whatsoever. Smt. Natarajan concluded by saying that they are bereft of any other issue to raise.