Press
Briefing Friday, 9th April 2010
Shri
Abhishek Singhvi addressed the media today.
Shri Abhishek Singhvi said that the tragic incident as
Dantewada is an affront to the human rights to life of
all Indians and to live a life of dignity. It is a
scourge on the fair and proud image of India and a
vibrant democracy. The Congress Party believes that the
State has a legitimate right to deploy its security
forces, to resist, to apprehend and if necessary to
neutralize militants who are determined to strike at the
very root of our country. Over the years and in
particular after two organizations merged into the
so-called CPI (Maoists) in 2004. Left Wing extremism has
sought to be expanded in different districts of India.
The CPI (Maoists) has declared it to be their goal to
liberate more and more areas by “Armed Liberation
Struggle”. This group – CPI (Maoists) – has the
‘People’s Liberation Guerilla Army’ – the PLGA. They
have declared their intention to convert this into a
‘People’s Liberation Army’ – PLA. They have exploited
the poverty and backwardness in these districts
especially where the tribals live and it appears that
the tribals support them but that is nothing of the
sort. It is fear masquerading as support. It is nothing
but fear and coercion. The poor tribals are caught
between a cruel CPI (Maoists) on the one hand and
effect-less administration on the other. The Congress
Party believes in its two pronged approach to the
scourge of Left Wing extremism. The first prong is that
the Central Government will assist the State Governments
to undertake anti-Naxal operations and to regain control
over territory which is now dominated by the Naxalites.
The second prong is to help the State Government to
restore the civil administration, to restart the
developmental process and to rush in as comprehensive a
manner as possible the developmental works like road,
schools, primary health centers, electricity, drinking
water. We, in the Congress Party, firmly believe that
our approach will succeed, must succeed. We, in the
Congress Party, believe that our par-military forces
have shown great courage in the face of severe odds
especially invisible odds ambushing odds. They have
achieved successes. Yes, they have also suffered
set-backs. This is the time, we believe, for us to stand
by our Para-military forces and boldly face the
challenge posed by the anti-national elements like
Naxalites. We believe that we shall overcome. Our object
is laudable, our intent is clear. All those who believe
in the Indian constitution and in the very idea of India
must speak out unequivocally and strongly condemn such
dastardly attacks. They must show the people of India
that persons capable of this are capable of many
atrocities against women and children do not deserve any
sympathy or leniency and particularly because they have
always practiced inhuman brutality in reciprocation of
any attempt to induct them into the main stream. All of
us collectively owe it to our brave forces who have laid
down their lives to combat this menace unitedly.
To the question of Home Minister Shri Chidambaram
handing over his resignation letter to Prime Minister
and the Congress President and whether the Congress
party has asked the Government to fix the responsibility
for this attack, Shri Singhvi said that a statement by
the Home Minister to the Hon’ble Prime Minister owning
full moral responsibility does not deserve to be
commented upon. It is something which should be
appreciated and a positive and commendable act and the
matter ends and rests there. As far as speculations
about who is thinking what and considering what, there
is no question of my reacting. These are all individual
perceptions you may have.
To a question as to the options available to the
Government in the backdrop of Dantewada, Shri Singhvi
said that he has already said so - three things, please
note. The Congress Party believes in two pronged
strategy. First is, the Central Government will always
assist and relentlessly go after anti-national elements
who practice violence. They will undertake anti-Naxal
operations and they will regain control over the
territory which appears to be dominated by such
elements. Simultaneous, equally important, second prong
of the policy is to restore the civil administration in
every aspect, to restart, accelerate the developmental
process and to rush in all those factors which involve
development works. Certainly the Government of India has
always believed in the simple principle. You have to
believe in the Indian constitution, you have to say so,
you have to abjure violence and then everything is
possible by way of talks of and negotiations. But unless
you abjure violence, unless you stop talking to the
barrel of gun, how can you expect anybody to go and beg
for talks while the other person is replying through the
barrel of the gun.
To a question over the statement of the Home Minister,
Shri Singhvi said I do not want to use the words which
you put in my mouth. I have used the words I wanted to
use to explain the two pronged policies. On the first
question Mr. Chidambaram specifically said so in the
context of people who kill women and children brutally.
You have to read the preceding line and the following
line. I believe that every right thinking person must
believe that persons who brutally kill women and
children are necessarily cowards.
To another question whether the Congress Party is in
favour of use of Air Force or military against the
Maoists, Shri Singhvi said I refer you back to the broad
statement of the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the Home
Minister. At the moment there is absolutely no mandate
for the use of Air Force and similar Forces as you have
described it but equally nothing can be fore-closed,
nothing can be ruled out, nothing is against
re-visitation and therefore, beyond that, it is not
necessary to speculate.
To a question over the statement of Ms Rita Bahuguna
over the statues of Ms Mayawati, Shri Singhvi said I
have received a written statement, I have read it. Now
that she has clarified that she neither said it nor
meant it what is ascribed to her. Now that she has
clarified that the context was not this at all, I have
nothing further to say.
Tom Vadakkan
Secretary, AICC
