Press Briefing Thursday, 6 August 2009

Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan addressed the media today.


Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan said that tomorrow we will come to the end of this particular session and we would like to express our happiness and sense of achievement over the passing of important legislation – The Right to Education Bill. Smt. Natarajan said that there can be no doubt that it is very historical landmark in our legislative history and we will take empowerment particularly of disadvantaged sections of society very far in our quest for equality and social justice. The legislation is very far reaching and we are confident that with proper implementation by the Central and State governments, it would result in tremendous strides forward in literacy and education. So we would like to congratulate the government for the success of this initiative – one of our promises made in the congress party manifesto and we look forward to all our promises being fulfilled in the forthcoming sessions of the Parliament.

On the question of tabling of the Bill, Smt. Natarajan said that Parliamentary Affairs Minister will be in a better position to answer this since she is not aware of the actual procedure behind tabling of the Bill.

To a further question, Smt. Natarajan said that we are in a coalition. We are part of our coalition government and leading a coalition government. All views are taken on board. The agenda is that of the UPA government.

On the question of performance of Speaker, Smt. Natarajan said that it certainly would not be proper for me to rate the Speaker but we do admire the firm, fair and yet extremely non –partisan and sober conduct of the House by the newly elected Speaker. On a further question of case filed against a Union Minister in Himachal Pradesh, Smt. Natarajan said that she is not aware of exact details of what cases have been filed by the Himachal Pradesh government and she will not be in a position to comment. She would only like to confine herself to commenting that politically motivated action by any State government should be examined very carefully before we can comment.

On a further question of setting up separate SGPC for Haryana, Smt. Natarajan said that from the information we have been able to gather that a representation from a large number of Sikh community including elected representatives of the SGPC from Haryana has been submitted to the government of Haryana to take the step of setting of separate SGPC like existing in other States like Delhi. The Chief Minister of Haryana had set up a committee under the Chairmanship of Haryana Minister from the Jat Sikh community. The report of that committee has been submitted and the Chief Minister will examine that report. No final decision has been taken.

On a further related question, Smt. Natarajan said that the congress governments and the congress representatives do not take these decisions on the basis of electoral considerations to divide people. This was the demand made by a large number of signature submitted to him by members of Sikh community in Haryana and the Chief Minister is actually consulting the report which is submitted by Minister to him and she would not like to say anything before that report has examined by the Chief Minister.

On the question of Land Acquisition Bill to be tabled or not to be tabled, Smt. Natarajan said that this is the matter which will be addressed by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister because this is something that the Business Advisory Committee in both the Houses will take a move. As far as differing perceptions that may have appeared in certain sections of the media, she was of the view that the views of all our alliance partners will be taken on board while the congress party takes a view.

 

(Tom Vadakkan)

Secretary, AICC