Press Briefing Monday, 27 July 2009

Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi addressed the media today.


Dr. Asbhshek Singhvii said that the days of double speak, triple speak and multi speak are back. The days of BJP politics of ‘masks’ and ‘mukhotas’ is back with a bang. You first had Mr. Advani after the elections. Suddenly seeing the virtues of the inclusive Government and governance, he was suddenly extolling the virtues of inclusive governance. You had the BJP leaders like Shah Nawaz Hussain blaming the divisive politics of BJP for the defeat. You had Mr. Yashwant Sinha and others calling for introspection and now you have no less than the BJP President giving a clarion call for ‘hindutva’. We, in the Congress, want to ask on behalf of the nation, which brand of ‘hindutva’ is this as you have in so many things, in cars and clothes. Is it brand category ‘A’ or ‘B’? Is it superfine or fine; is it Modi’s brand of ‘hindutva’ or Varun Gandhi’s brand of ‘hindutva’? Is it Gujarat brand or is it the Pilibhit brand or is it in deed Vinay Katiyar brand of ‘hindutva’. Is the BJP President wanting to create his own fresh brand with a fresh patent and trade mark a fresh brand of ‘hindutva’ or is it nothing but an internal BJP jockeying for power? Or is it yet another attempt to fool and misguide the people of India to mislead and misrepresent to confuse and confound.

Dr. Singhvi said that the country wants an answer and wants to know is it the ‘hindutva’ of paying obeisance to Jinnah’s ‘mazar’ in Pakistan? Is it the ‘hindutva’ of demolishing Babri and then shedding crocodile tears on the saddest moment of his life? Or is it Mr. Jaswant Singh’s brand of ‘hindutva’ had bowed in surrender at Kandhar? The country waits for an answer and the BJP is obliged to define its various ‘mukhotas’ and ‘chehras’, otherwise it is doing nothing but for beating the trust of the people.

On a question over the joint statement, Dr. Singhvi said that the Congress party had earlier, at its press briefing, spoken on the issue. Hon’ble Prime Minister has spoken not only to the Press but to Parliament earlier. As we all know in all probability, he is likely to again speak on 29th. My colleague Shri Dwivedi has clarified to you that when the Prime Minister speaks in Parliament on 29th, he will address all questions, all apprehensions and speculations and after all this, there is nothing whatsoever for him to add except to request you to be patient till 29th.

On a further question of whether the Congress party supports the joint statement, Dr. Singhvi said that we have already answered in various formulations of the same question and today what has been told to you, require no further answer. We are not denying or accepting or saying anything except whatever has been said earlier.



 

(Tom Vadakkan)

Secretary, AICC