Press
Briefing Wednesday, 10th February 2010
Shri
Abhishek Singhvi addressed the media today.
Shri Abhishek Singhvi said that the Congress party
appreciates the statement of the Government of
Australia, through its Foreign Minister, recognizing and
accepting categorically for the first time the serious
nature and the frequently racist nature of the violence
and the incidents in Australia, especially in Melbourne.
Recognition is the first step towards acceptance and
acceptance is the first step towards the action - solid
action. Living in denial, as for example, we saw in the
statement of some puny police officials of that country,
who according to the Congress party, have no locus to
comment on relations between two sovereign nations.
Living in denial does not help in any manner. We
reciprocate that sentiment and the sentiments behind the
statement as of course also the statement. We hope and
trust that that sentiment and that statement of the
Foreign Minister of the Government of Australia will be
rapidly and urgently translated into concrete bold
action. But that is not enough - even more importantly
into clear results. It is only on the touch stone of
results that we can and we will judge this issue. What
is significant is the consistency and the continuous
nature of the efforts of the Government of India, the
Congress-led UPA Government, whose bold and unequivocal
and firm reiteration of its stand in unambiguous terms,
has finally led to this statement, this recognition and
this acceptance.
We, therefore, also strongly endorse the Government of
India’s stand and note with satisfaction that some
results are being yielded. I would like to say that no
long-term relationship between two sovereign countries
can be stable, long lasting and fruitful without not
only the trust and mutual respect but most importantly
the reciprocal safety and security of its respective
citizens.
To a question on Shiv Sena threats in Maharashtra, Shri
Singhvi said that we have made it very clear and you
have seen it partly that a large number of empty threats
have been shown and demonstrated to be hollow. If such a
situation arises, and we hope and trust that better
sense will prevail and such a situation will not arise,
it will be dealt with a very firm hand. That has been
the stand in the Home Ministers’ Conference and the
Security Conference. That has been the stand of the
Chief Minister and the Dy. Chief Minister of Maharashtra
and that has been the stand in the public domain that
has been the stand of the Congress party.
On being asked the question as to what will be the
reaction of the congress party if the prices of petrol
and kerosene are also increased despite already rising
prices of the essential commodities, Shri Singhvi said
that a lot of what media is saying is speculation unless
a decision is announced. A decision has to be announced
formally by the Government in the prescribed method.
That stage has not come. Shri Singhvi further said that
the Congress party’s stand is consistent. It is the
‘aam-aadmi’ focus memorized by the words of Gandhi Ji
which is important in any increase. Sometimes increases
may be unavoidable but they have to be demonstrably
unavoidable and if they are unavoidable they have to be
absolutely the real minimum. That is our stand. It is no
point getting into figures and details because that
decision has not been announced.
On being asked the stand of the Congress party on the
increase in the petrol prices with relation to the
report of Kirit Parikh on deregulation of the fuel
prices, Shri Singhvi said that the whole nation and
everybody else is aware of the Parikh Report. A report
has a recommendatory value. The report has to be
accepted by the government and translated into
proclaimed announced action which has not happened. All
factors and certainly Parikh report is one input but
there are diverse inputs and the Congress party stand is
one such major input which will be taken into account
before any action is decided or announced.
On the question of the visit of Shri Rahul Gandhi to
Azamgarh after Digvijay Singh has submitted his report,
Shri Singhvi said that there are two aspects. No
particular programme, schedule, date or details of Shri
Rahul Gandhi’s programme have yet been finalized. As
soon as these are known or published, media will come to
know of it. So there is some amount of speculation in
the question. But more importantly, as media knows, Shri
Rahul Gandhi is carrying on a quiet revolution among
others in educational institutions. He visits such
institutions on regular basis and this has to be seen in
yet another joint in that long chain and requested the
media not to read into it all kinds of other
interpretations on that issue.
On the question whether the congress party is in search
of new alliance in Tamil Nadu, Shri Singhvi said that
the congress party has an alliance in place. We have a
successful alliance a second time around. We have that
same alliance in the Centre and urged the media to put
all speculation at rest. These are serious matters and a
casual comment here or there will just create
unnecessary confusion and uncertainly and there is
absolutely nothing justifying that speculation.
On a further question as to why Government is hesitating
in announcing the terms and reference of the Mishra
committee, Shri Singhvi said that on the contrary media
should compliment something for a well thought out
detailed action. These are serious matters. These are
emotional matters. These are matters having wide
repercussions. The Government and the Home Minister have
categorically told the media that it will take time
while the terms of reference are finalized in
consultation with the Learned Judge.
On the question of rise in the food inflation, Shri
Singhvi said that as far food inflation is concerned,
all inflation is anathema to the congress led UPA
Government because it is most provocative and harmful to
the common man. However, within that category, food
inflation certainly must get priority attention. We have
made it clear that certainly while the responsibility is
common; it is also clearly and categorically
differentiated because the collectivity known as
Government does not function only as collectivity, it
functions through departments and Ministries and
therefore, the primary, the focused and the specific
responsibility is of the Ministry and that Ministry in
the collective context is taking all possible steps and
we are very hopeful the media will see a decreasing
trend.
On the question of providing social security to the
unorganized workers, Shri Singhvi said that nobody can
condone or ignore the serious issues of poverty and
deprivation in our country. No Government in 60 years
has done as much for the unorganized workers in general.
Take the Bima Yojana, Unorganized Workers Yojana which
is the largest social security scheme in the world.
Tom Vadakkan
Secretary, AICC
