Press Briefing Wednesday, 21st September 2011

Shri Abhishek Singhvi addressed the media today.

On the question of reaction of the Congress party on the figure of Rs. 32/- and Rs. 26/- per day suggested by the Planning Commission required for sustaining one’s life and also with regard to the statement of Aruna Roy, Shri Abhishek Singhvi said these are matters which are decided on the basis of empirical statistical data and they must be left to the judgment of experts who spend considerable time analyzing such data. I don’t think they deserve to be dismissed out of hand as a frivolous exercise but let me equally make it clear this is certainly not the last word. All inputs of the constructive nature in this regard are welcome and if there are any conceptual reasons, then certain changes can be looked at and all this should be provided in a constructive manner to the Planning Commission.

In relation to the statement of Aruna Roy, Shri Singhvi further said there can be genuine bonafide differences of opinion. It does not mean I am holding anybody’s opinion to be wrong. There are genuine bonafide differences of opinion but they should put their inputs before the Planning Commission and I have no reason to believe that the Planning Commission and the experts under them will not look into in a very positive constructive manner.

On the question whether the Congress party will give some suggestion to the Planning Commission, Shri Singhvi said every constructive positive element of civil or political society is entitled to give a concrete constructive input whether on concept or on figures and let me repeat there is no question of treating a genuine constructive input lightly but equally let us not be dismissive at the threshold without going into the exercise.

On the question of the reaction of the Congress party on the statement of the spokesperson of NCP that the working of the Planning Commission can be summed up in three words - ‘meeting’ ‘lunch’ and ‘rest’, Shri Singhvi said that we are not in agreement with these comments. The Planning Commission has been handling these types of statistics for the last number of decades.

On another question on the reaction of the Congress party over lifting of the ban on export of onions by the e-GOM which is the same e-GOM who had put such ban with the result that the prices of onion have gone up in the market since yesterday, Shri Singhvi said there is no flip-flop. Please understand these measures are taken on a periodic basis because they involve very precise calibrated monitoring on daily, weekly and monthly trends. It is a question of addition, release, restriction, further additions and so on and so forth depending on the demand and supply pattern. If you have found a change between the previous e-GOM and the current one’s decision, these are periodic decisions. Nothing is permanent and they must have been based on an appreciation of statistical data regarding demand and supply. It is only then, it is done. It does not mean that next week, it cannot be restricted again. If the demand and supply trend is justified, you can rest assured, that it can be and going to be restricted again.

On the question of the reaction of the Congress party on Indo-Bangla treaty signed by the PM, Shri Singhvi said I don’t want to comment on delicate matters of international negotiations. I don’t want to comment on matters which are essentially governmental and you really need to ask the MEA or the relevant Ministry’s person. They alone are apprised of the facts. I can tell you if this decision is part of the larger decision which involves setting right old historical facts, some of which are in India belonging to Bangladesh and some of which are in Bangladesh belonging to India. If they are set for exchange, a decision has to be taken. It has been taken after large amount of deliberation.

On the question of the reaction of the Congress party over police firing on a particular community in Gopalgarh when compared to Gujarat riots, Shri Singhvi said let me make it clear that any riot leading to loss of even a single life is extremely regrettable. We condemn it. Our hearts go out for each and every person who has been hurt and this applies to every person of India irrespective of colour, caste, creed and religion. But equally it is important not to jump to knee-jerk reaction which some of our opponents are deliberately doing to try to obfuscate the issue. The fundamental difference which will always remain between Gujarat and other so-called riots, events or communal issues is that there is evidence up to the Supreme Court of State complicity and State involvement in the Gujarat episode. That is the difference and we must never forget that difference.

On another question on the statement of Anna Hazare appealing to the electorate of Hissar to vote for a party whose President is prepared to agree to the Jan Lokpal bill; Shri Singhvi said I don’t think there is any need to comment on this statement because we are a democratic country and every member of civil society is entitled to issue any appeal to anyone until the same is within the purview of law and without any violence.

On the question of the reaction of the Congress party over the statement of Beni Prasad Verma with regard to the fact as to who will be the CM of UP, Shri Singhvi said every congressman knows the name of the CM is not notified and it has always been the tradition that after the results are announced, Legislators meet and elect their leader under the leadership of the high command. There is no shift in the stand of the Congress party as far as the elections of Uttar Pradesh are concerned.

On the question of the reaction of the Congress party on the wikiLeak report that LK Advance is not in the race for the Prime Ministership in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Shri Singhvi said I think it is a very important question you have raised. It is a question which deserves an answer but you are asking a wrong person and a wrong party this question. You need to address this question to the BJP where at last count; I could count about five active and aggressive persons as Prime Minister-in-waiting candidates. Certainly your question relating to fear, anger, instability and internal fierce competition applies to the BJP at the highest level and certainly your question deserves an answer from the BJP.

Shri Singhvi further said as far as Congress party is concerned, there is no vacancy for Prime Minister’s post, there has been no vacancy for a while and as far as BJP is concerned, there is unlikely to be a vacancy in future or at least in the foreseeable future.

To another question as to who will be the Congress party’s candidate for the Prime Minister in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Shri Singhvi said Dr. Manmohan is the Prime Minister leading the Congress-led UPA and I think no other speculation or comment on that required.

To a question as to whether the administrative work in Andhra Pradesh is paralyzed due to Telengana issue, Shri Singhvi said there is no question of paralysis of the administration. These are exaggerated extreme adjectives being used to create an impression of instability. We do not agree at all but equally we are not insensitive to the legitimate demand of different sections and the whole attempt is to deal with this delicate situation by trying to carry each and every stakeholder with us. We have said earlier and we are repeating it is a delicate situation which requires maturity, statesman like approach and we can appeal through you to every stakeholder to maintain that approach.


(Tom Vadakkan)
Secretary, AICC