Press Briefing Monday, 3rd October 2011

Shri Abhishek Singhvi addressed the media today.

Shri Abhishek Singhvi said Mr. Narendra Modi and BJP’s naked dictatorship is manifest in full force in Gujarat. The BJP is running what might be called an arbitrary high-handed vindictive, victimizing and harassing state apparatus in Gujarat. Modi’s word is the law. If he raises his eye-brow with disfavour, somebody’s fundamental rights must be crushed. If he sneezes in Gujarat, BJP must run helter-skelter in Delhi whether to disrupt parliament or to carry delegation to the President of India. They feel obliged, compelled to do so. The BJP and Mr. Modi have thrown all democratic spirit, all republican norms to the winds. What pervades this BJP ruled state is the ethic of intolerance - narcissistic megalomania – a vendetta of filled hatred against all those who dare to voice democratic opposition. I want you to introspect to consider these facts. In June 2006, Sanjeev Bhatt was cited as evidence or as witness by Zakia Jaffrey in the allegation she made against Modi and 61 other persons. In November 2009, this Sanjeev Bhatt and we are not concerned about Sanjeev Bhatt or an individual; we are talking of the institutional apparatus, the approach of the BJP. This is only an example. There are many-many more examples. In November 2009, the SIT examined him under Supreme Court orders and he made detailed allegations that on 27th Feb 2002, at the height of Godara issue, Mr. Modi gave illegal instructions and illegal orders regarding mobs in Ahmedabad. He filed an affidavit and then again he filed a similar affidavit in the High Court of Gujarat and this is very important where he gave an affidavit in Pandeya’s case. The allegation in the affidavit is that in Haren Pandey’s murder case, there is great and direct complicity of politicians and public figure in Gujarat. I sent the report to Amit Shah, Home Minister. Amit Shah asked me to destroy it and ultimately the Home Ministry and Amit Shah buried it deep. That is the affidavit in the High Court. The point is not the correctness or otherwise of such affidavits. The point is not about Sanjeev Bhatt or anybody else. The point is that anybody who dares to raise his voice, some critic is found to victimize and harass to act with vendetta. Can you imagine, it would be laughable if it was not tragic, a police sub inspector is asked to file a complaint against the IPS Officer and that too now – after all had happened - why not before about fabrication of evidence in old case? Why was this complaint not filed earlier? He is now charged with sections of the IPC which were not there in the FIR. His family has expressed a bonafide apprehension that he would be liquidated. We can tell you from this forum that if anything untoward happens, there is no doubt as to who will be responsible for that untoward incident and damage to life and property. But Mr. Modi and the BJP more particularly has a very respectable lineage - a consistent pattern of vendetta filled action. I have several other names. Have you forgotten Kuldeep Sharma, Addl. DG – the man who was tried to be arrested in a 25 years old incident because he gave a report against Amit Shah in 2005? Have you forgotten C.N. Srikumar who gave evidence of Godara riots? A new enquiry was started against him. There are many more examples. There is Rajnish Rai who gave evidence in encounter case of Banjara. He and his wife were given punitive transfers. His wife was Collector. The real point is that the BJP gives lectures regarding civil rights. It gives lectures about democratic spirit. In actual fact, they always practice the opposite of what they preach. In a grand inversion of Valtair, as you know what Valtair said – I will defend to death your right to disagree with me. In a grand inversion of that, the BJP and Mr. Modi say that we will ensure that we crush your right of democratic dissent. They speak, nobody can speak in their state unless they speak His Master’s Voice and the master is the political party the BJP in power. This is the narcissistic megalomania at its worst.

On the question of the reaction of the Congress party over any likely change in the statistics already announced by the Planning Commission to determine the BPL, Shri Singhvi said we have said so earlier and we have no hesitation in repeating that the basic object is to arrive at long lasting and more particularly accurate data which will stand the test of time not merely in economic terms, which is important, but also in terms of ground reality. That is the basic object. That is the basic purpose of the exercise and if fresh approaches, fresh looks or fresh data necessitate a revision of older views, I do not see there is any ego or a feeling of standing on some form or pedestal in this regard. The basic object is that these criteria which have repercussion for several schemes for several parameters and several decision making models must be as accurate and real as possible and it is that basic object which is sought to be prepared and pushed forward.


On the question of reaction of the Congress party over a death of a person on the door step of the Chief Minister of J&K and the Congress party is muted, Shri Singhvi said I don’t think the Congress party is at all muted. I don’t think the Chief Minister or either of the two coalition partners has had any attempt to suppress or avoid the issue. You are forgetting that no amount of vocal noise is required because the CM within a span of few hours has himself given explanation which was not required of him personally. Secondly he talked to Chief Justice and asked for a sitting Judge to hold enquiry. He has further said that he has nothing to hide and will look into it. Because the opposition parties are breast beating, it does not mean the Congress party must join the cacophony.

On the question of latest development on Telengana issue in relation to the statement of Shri Prakash Karat of CPM, Shri Singhvi said that he has said nothing new. If he has some magic formula in his pocket, we will request him to supply the same to us. It is no point in making a comment on an issue where, even when he speaks; we are daily trying to solve something. General Secretary In-charge has also made an official statement less than 24 hours ago. All stakeholders are trying to work out something. I don’t see any reason on the comment to react to a very simple statement without any solution inbuilt to it.



(Tom Vadakkan)
Secretary, AICC