Press Briefing
Wednesday, 8th June 2011
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan addressed the media
today.
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan said, over the last few
days, we witnessed with very great concern the
subversion of our constitution and the attempt
to subvert our polity and democracy by communal
forces who want to polarize our society and
create enmity and hostility between our people.
It is very clear that the mask has now fully
been removed and we all are aware regarding who
are the forces behind Baba Ramdev and his
movement. All of us witnessed with shock the
entry of Sadhvi Rithambhara - accused of
inciting violent communal configuration upon the
stage what was meant to be a ‘yoga-shivir’. We
now know that on 11th of March 2011, Akhil
Bhartiya Pratinidhi Sabha – an apex body of RSS
– took a decision to start an anti-corruption
movement with Baba Ramdev as its Patron and with
Shri Govindacharya as its Member. This meeting
and decision happened in Karnataka in Kuttura.
On 12th April 2011, Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarathi
Parishad (ABVP), whose allegiance is well known,
also formed a movement called youth against
corruption once again under the patronage of
Baba Ramdev.
On 20th May 2011 Shri Suresh Joshi – a senior
official of RSS – issued a circular asking all
RSS cadres to extend strong support to Baba
Ramdev’s movement and on 28th of May 2011 Shri
Ashok Singhal issued the very same circular
expressing the same sentiments. Now two days
ago, the entire top leadership of the BJP coming
out in support of Baba Ramdev have thus exposed
the entire backing, patronage and agenda to
polarize the society and to create confusion.
The BJP and its leaders dancing at Raj Ghat
defiled the memory of Mahatama Gandhi and
sanctity of Raj Ghat by not showing the
seriousness of purpose by their behaviour at a
sacred place for our democracy. We condemn that
insult to Raj Ghat and to the memory of Mahatama
Gandhi. Today Baba Ramdev says he will arm and
give arms training to 11,000 young men and send
them to fight corruption. The leader of the
opposition Sushma Swaraj has visited Baba Ramdev
today. She is in a meeting. We would like to ask
if it is a plan to start armed rebellion against
the central government. Is the BJP a party to a
plan to start an armed rebellion of 11,000 armed
young men against the constitution, against the
lawfully elected government of this country? Is
it correct for the leader of the opposition to
hold a meeting with the man who has just
declared armed war against the country? It is
for the BJP to answer to the people of the
country whether they support this movement of
Baba Ramdev and what was the leader of the
opposition doing at that meeting? At the same
time, Shri Anna Hazare, in a different place,
has called for a second freedom movement.
Shri L.K. Advani has compared what happened at
the Ramlila Maidan to Jallianwala Bagh when Baba
Ramdev was asked to leave the ‘maidan’ which in
our view is a shameful comparison - a second
freedom movement - against whom? This is a
lawfully elected government. This is a
parliament that has been elected by the people
of the country and to launch a parallel movement
by the people who proclaim that they will not
stand for election is a complete subversion of
our political system and upon the very basis on
which our constitution rests. Our civil society
stems from our constitution and our constitution
stems from our civil society. So, to call for a
second freedom movement against our own
government is unacceptable and condemnable.
Regarding corruption, the government has time
and again stated its firm commitment to fight
corruption and to bring the Lokpal Bill. It is
well known that in response to the questionnaire
sent by Shri Pranab Mukherjee, the leading
political parties, who are now saying that they
are supporting Baba Ramdev and Shri Anna Hazare,
have given in writing that the space of making
laws should be reserved for parliament and that
cannot be abdicated to any other party. After
having given that in writing, the BJP and other
such parties are playing a fraud upon the people
of India by pretending to extend support to this
movement while saying at the same time that the
law can only be drafted by parliament. I wish to
reiterate that the Indian National Congress
stands firmly committed to rooting out
corruption from this country and to bring a very
effective Lokpal Bill that should be brought in
the parliament at the earliest possible time.
However, we are equally strong in our view that
institutions under the constitution,
representatives of the people and the
legislature - none of these should be subverted
in polity and any call to polarize and
communalize our society should be resisted with
all force and with all our might.
On the question whether should Baba Ramdev be
put behind bars, Smt. Natarajan said what Baba
Ramdev has said is completely against the
constitution and against the rule of law and I
would like the BJP to come out and state openly
whether they support Baba Ramdev and is it not
an armed rebellion against the parliament of
India.
She added that the Home Ministry of this
country, as a government, have been carrying out
their function admirably and I am sure that the
Home Minister is already aware of whatever
statement has been made and I am very sure they
will take action which is advisable under the
law to maintain not only the constitutional
scheme of things but also law and order and
prevent any communal configuration taking place
in this country.
On another question whether is it not a
‘deshdroh’ by waging a war against the
government, Smt. Natarajan said it is
unconstitutional and illegal and whatever action
is to be taken, the government has to take such
actions.
Smt. Natarajan further said she is not aware of
the circumstances of externment of Baba Ramdev.
I understand from the reports in the media that
this matter is being looked into but I have seen
media report that Baba Ramdev escaped in woman’s
clothes – that he first vanished from the stage,
then jumped down and then escaped. I am not
aware of the circumstances of what happened and
we will have to wait for an authoritative
version from the government before I can comment
on it.
To a question whether like Baba Ramdev, Anna
Hazare is also mask of BJP and RSS, Smt.
Natarajan said she has made a clear distinction
of what Anna Hazare has said today, is
unacceptable.
To a further question whether Baba Ramdev and
Anna Hazare are on the same footing, Smt.
Natarajan said there are two different issues. A
call for armed rebellion is an act of subversion
of our democracy. As far as Anna Hazare is
concerned, what he has said today, everybody has
a right to protest peacefully but I do not think
even Anna Hazare is aware, is rather unfortunate
for Anna Hazare comparing it to a freedom
movement and ‘Jallianwala Bagh’. We do not
accept these comparisons and we believe that
civil society should understand that ultimately
laws are to be made by the legislature and
people have complete freedom of expression to
express their views but the elected
representatives of the people have to make the
law. This is the view of every single political
party that has responded to Shri Pranab
Mukherjee’s questionnaire.
On another question on the reaction of the
Congress party over Anna Hazare sitting on fast
after 15th August if Lokpal Bill is not
introduced in the parliament till then, Smt.
Natarajan said we believe that these are the
issues which are better discussed in parliament.
On the question over the issue relating to
Dayanidhi Maran, Smt. Natarajan said at this
point of time, there are allegations which have
come out in the public space. I am unable to
comment on this allegation because it is not
known whether those are being investigated or
not.
To another question on the reaction of the
Congress party over the statement of Shri A.K.
Antony, Smt. Natarajan said he has only said
that transparency revolution is taking and it
will take time at various levels of society for
it to percolate.
(Tom Vadakkan)
Secretary, AICC
