Press Briefing Tuesday, 31st Mar 2009

Shri Ashwani Kumar addressed the media today.

Shri Ashwani Kumar said that he intends to talk essentially on two or three fundamental points not because they are new or have not been spoken of earlier but because we need to bring back the debate to the core issues that confronts the people of India.

Shri Ashwani Kumar said that we believe that the core issues of communalized polity and corrupted polity have to be brought to the fore front because the BJP has not only failed this country repeatedly in terms of safeguarding the cohesiveness of our society and the unity of the spirit of India but has repeatedly failed the people of this country on probity in public life and on the need to uphold zero tolerance for corruption in the region. Shri Ashwani Kumar said that the parading of Ms Neera Yadav as the latest high profile entrant into the BJP ranks is a continuation of the story that attracted the national conscience when Bangaru Laxman was caught on tape and when Tehelka exposed the worst form of political corruption. The need to bring up these issues arose because the BJP.s contender to the Prime Ministerial office chose to raise a totally untenable issue of Swiss Bank and German LTG Bank accounts despite clear categorical reply of Mr. Chidambaram when he first wrote the letter and again yesterday. I believe that the party that treats the likes of Neera Yadav as its mascot has no moral or political credential for taking the moral high ground on the issue of corruption at any time.

Shri Ashwani Kumar said that the second point he intends to raise is to re-emphasize that when terrorism is raising its head on our borders (referring to what has been happened in Lahore) and when terrorism is the principal challenge to civilized society of 21st century, the BJP.s brand of politics that weakens our internal unity and solidarity of society can hardly be assured to Indians as to the security of India is safe with BJP. The stupor in Kargil, surrender in Kandhar and stalemate in operation .Prakraman. convincingly establishes that neither the BJP as a party nor its leadership can live up to its election slogan of .MAZBOOT NETA, NIRNAYAK SARKAR..

Shri Ashwani Kumar further said that the communalization of India.s polity owes its origin to BJP and this story has been blatantly carried forward in Pilibhit. The unambiguous endorsement of the candidature of Varun Gandhi by Advani and Rajnath Singh, we believe, is a brazen disregard of the sensitivities of the people of India and added to this is the most reprehensive decision of the BJP to field the prime accused in the attacks on Christians in Kandhamal. Shri Ashwani Kumar said that he does not think after this the people of India need any further proof that not only the security is not safe in the hands of BJP but even the core values of our republic will continue to be flouted by the BJP party that ironically claims itself to be .the party with difference..

Shri Ashwani Kumar said that the BJP is indeed .the party with a difference. because this is the only party of the political landscape of India that has treated with contempt the sensitivities of the people and the core values of our republic.

To the question of admitting Tauqeer Raza Khan into the Congress Party, Shri Ashwani Kumar said it has been already been said earlier that the Congress Party does not encourage communalism and reject it totally.

On the question of offering his comments on Sanjay Dutt not given relief by the Hon.ble Apex Court, Shri Ashwani Kumar said that the Congress Party welcomes the judgment of the Hon.ble Supreme Court. The Samajwadi Party has offered the candidature of Sanjay Dutt, the last word on this issue has been spoken by the Supreme Court and in living with our traditions and we fully respect the judgment of the Supreme Court.

To a question whether the Congress Party will field a candidate in Lucknow when Sanjay Dutt is not contesting, Shri Ashwani Kumar said that now the Congress Party will put up a candidate in Lucknow.

To another question on the statement of Advani Ji for bringing back black money belonging to the Indians from Swiss Bank, Shri Ashwani Kumar said that the then Finance Minister had written a detailed letter to Mr. Advani and I am sorry to state that Mr. Advani was wrong when he said that the reply was evasive. Shri Ashwani Kumar further said that we will try our very best to get back into the country any ill gotten money or any unaccounted money which should have been in India and which has been stacked in foreign.

To the question on the statement of Shri Sharad Pawar over the Prime Ministership, Shri Ashwani Kumar said that that UPA will decide its Prime Minister after the elections are over and further said that we are confident that the UPA.s Prime Ministerial candidate will be Dr. Manmohan Singh only. Shri Ashwani Kumar said that the candidate of the Congress Party for the Prime Ministership is Dr. Manmohan Singh and he will be the Prime Minister even after the elections.

On the question of Advani Ji daring a debate, Shri Ashwani Kumar said that we have never rejected a debate and further said that every issue is a debate. The Congress Party challenges the BJP to come clear on the issues of communalism and corruption on the basis of their track record. There is no question of rejecting debate.

To the question raised over the commission allegedly paid in a particular defence purchase, Shri Ashwani Kumar said that Dr. Abhishek Singhvi had given a detailed reply yesterday to this. We are instructed to tell you and we have reason to that there is no question of a commission with reference to 6%. The 6% we understand is to cover various services like transportation, bank guarantee, warranty etc. To answer your question defence contracts are also signed and their timing is determined by the urgency in which you need to have the defence preparedness. It is not an ordinary contract. The issue - is there any substance in the charge that 6% was commission - our answer is we are told that 6% is not commission. This is wrong insinuation and we reject it with all the force at our command.

Tom Vadakkan

Secretary, AICC