Press Briefing Monday, 5 October 2009

Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi addressed the media today.


Dr. Singhvi said that the Congress party expresses deep sympathy and empathy for those afflicted by and suffering in the floods in several parts of the country particularly in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and parts of Maharashtra. Dr. Singhvi said that the media is aware of the Congress President’s visit. Every effort is under way at the state and central level to provide a healing touch. Our hearts go out to those who have suffered bereavements, to those rendered homeless, to poor families, to children and women and we can assure with all the emphasis at our command that in times of such terrible natural disaster or calamity, no effort of any kind will be spared to ensure the best assistance and rehabilitation possible.

Dr. Singhvi further said that he does not want to go in to details. We have figures and statistics and some of the media have them also. Obviously primarily it is a State level issue but the Central Government is monitoring every aspect and is extending every possible help. In Andhra Pradesh alone about 700 water trade rescue personnel –several columns of the Army, Navy - almost 12 or 15 rescue teams of Navy in Andhra alone. Air Force – several air crafts and the same applies to Karnataka. In Karnataka e.g. water trade personnel of 350 and Army Navy and Air Force. It is a terrible natural event. Numbers of relief camps have been opened. There are as many as 290 or 300 in Andhra Pradesh, some 583 in Karnataka and further added that it is not the statistics which we are concerned alone. The Congress President and the entire Congress party is concerned about with the human facet of this terrible tragedy and added that we are there; we stand steadfast to extend every helping hand. Constructive suggestions, of course, are also welcome. But in the ultimate analysis, the Government at every level is going flat out to minimize what is obviously a terrible suffering.

On the question of demand of declaring this tragedy as national calamity and alleging that in Andhra Pradesh appropriate action has not been taken because of the instability there, Dr. Singhvi said that he rejects and condemns the second aspect of the allegation and further said that is most unfortunate. He could indulge in countering but in such a terrible calamity, to get into cheap political gimmickry is reprehensible. He condemns the same with all the vehemence at his command. Those poor helpless people whom we see on our TV screens, for whom everybody’s heart goes out deserves better than this kind of cheap political gimmickry. This is not about politics and no government and no political party worth its own can hope to go back to those people if they indulge in this kind of things.

Dr. Singhvi further said that we should focus on the figures we have available with us. Good commendable work is going on. If any of these persons who are with this gimmickry can help in the work, they are welcome. If they can’t, he only requests them to keep their peace.

On the first part of the question which was national calamity, certainly these are matters which are part of a legal system and procedure. It is for the Government to act in accordance with that process. Dr. Singhvi said that he is certain that the Government is looking at all aspects of that procedure very carefully. We cannot preempt that process. We do not have all the relevant inputs to take that decision. Every aspect including the aspect which the media has rightfully highlighted will be looked into.

On the question of Karnataka State also demanding national calamity and assistance of Rs. Ten thousand Crore, Dr. Singhvi said that the same answer applies to Karnataka State. Obviously every state at this moment will make demand according to their understanding. The immediate need of the hour is to try to reach practical concrete help in the form of men, material and food. The assistance which the media is talking about is obviously rehabilitative longer and medium term assistance. That has its own relevance. That will be evaluated by the appropriate agencies including the Planning Commission and the Finance Ministry but the real issue today for these poor hapless people is immediate on the ground physical assistance and we all have to extend our best and our Armed Forces and the special personnel and the local Para-military forces are doing an exemplary job. We have to encourage them and exhort them.

On a further question raised by Karnataka on river linking project, Dr. Singhvi said that there are many facets and aspects involved in it. But in this hour of grief for those poor people it would be wrong for him to make allegations and counter allegations. As far as second part of the question is concerned, it is a much larger issue. That is a part of the Government policy in a different way and further said that he does not think that it is magic wands that by chanting inter river linking or not chanting it, you are going to solve these problems like this. We also have to keep in mind the awesome unbelievable scale of the inter river linking project. These things should best be left to the experts. It is a super long term solution. We have to think short and then medium and then preferably long.

Dr. Singhvi further added that he does not think that anybody is rejecting or accepting this. Equally we must remember that this is not an immediate panacea. Nor is it yet been established that it is a long term panacea. It is a debatable issue. These are not the issues which can be discussed in an hour. This is a matter which has been propounded even during previous Governments. We should best leave it to the agencies/authorities concerned.



(Tom Vadakkan)

Secretary, AICC