Press
Briefing Friday, 25th June 2010
Smt.
Jayanthi Natarajan addressed the media today.
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan said that we express our shock
and concern over the resignation of former Supreme Court
Judge – a person of higher integrity and stature Justice
Santosh Hegde – from the post of Lokayukta in Karnataka.
He has expressed his unwillingness to continue in the
post due to the obstructive and uncooperative attitude
of the State Government. Justice Hegde who had been a
crusader against corruption and has won the respect of
all sections of society for his tremendous contribution
as Lokayukta cited several instances - in particular the
suspension of honest officers who exposed the theft of
iron-ore belonging to the State worth over Rs. 250
crores. We are, therefore, shocked that the Karnataka
Government in violation of all probity is penalizing
honest officers and protecting and reinstating corrupt
officers thereby leading to rampant corruption in the
State of Karnataka. We demand in particular that there
should be a probe into the nexus between the mining
lobby and BJP leaders and party at all levels and that
the State Government should immediately take steps to
persuade Justice Hegde to reconsider his decision to
resign.
On the question of reaction of the Congress Party over
the fuel price hike and possibility of any roll back of
the same, Smt. Natarajan said that I am not speaking for
the Government but speaking for the Party. Smt.
Natarajan further said that on behalf of the party I
would like to say that we are always concerned about the
welfare of the common man and woman and always very
aware of the impact of any economic measure upon their
lives. However, we believe the Government must have been
constrained to take this step and will ensure that the
impact on the most disadvantaged section of the society
is cushioned as much as possible.
On the question of the reaction of the Congress Party
over the comments of Ms. Mamata Banerjee on fuel price
hike, Smt. Natarajan said that the Government has
announced it and the e-GOM has concluded a few minutes
ago, I am not aware of what Ms. Mamata Banerejee has
said.
On the question of the reaction of the Congress Party on
the statement issued by Bhopal Gas Victims Organization
with reference to the compensation and as to who ensured
safe passage for Warren Anderson from Bhopal, Smt.
Natarajan said that as far as safe passage is concerned,
I have at various times already made statements and I
have nothing to add or subtract from those statements.
As far as compensation is concerned, I believe the GOM
has considered it very closely and had gone into various
aspects and decision has been taken on those grounds.
On another question on the reaction of the Congress
Party over the statement made by Shri Mani Shankar Aiyer
with regard to the expenditure incurred in connection
with commonwealth games, Smt. Natarajan said I cannot
comment upon the statements made between Shri Kalmadi
and Shri Mani Shankar Aiyer. From the party forum, we
support the commonwealth games and it is pride of the
country to conduct any international sports meet.
International sports meet promote friendship between
nations and we treat commonwealth games in that light
and we hope we will be able to show-case India’s
progress in the field of sports in the commonwealth
games.
On the question of the deregulation and its impact on
inflation, Smt. Natarajan said we certainly understand
all those constraints. Earlier also the price mechanism
has been dismantled during NDA regime. It is not
something that is happening for the first time. I think
the GOM would have considered all the steps, taken a
great deal of effort to ensure that the impact is
minimum. Smt. Natarajan further said that the issue is
not uni-dimensional. We are all aware that food
inflation has again increased marginally. It is due to
various reasons. One of which is definitely due to the
cost of transport.
Tom Vadakkan
Secretary, AICC
