Press Briefing Thursday, 14 May 2009

Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi addressed the media today.

Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that there was really nothing much to say now because the results would speak for themselves on the 16th of May. He said that it would be difficult to say whether the exit polls run by the different media channels since yesterday belonged to the reality class of shows or to the fiction class of shows. Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that as far as the quantum of figures and the gaps shown by these between the UPA and NDA were concerned, it clearly showed that these exist polls belonged to the realm of fiction. He added that it was common knowledge that the gap between the Congress party and the next party or entity would be much larger and much higher than anybody can anticipate.

Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi added that along with these fictional quantities many media channels had issued self-imposed, non-statutory warnings of health before advertising these exit poll survey figures. He said that while the figure would be much higher for both the Congress and the UPA and while the gap would be much wider, the one undeniable fact which was clear was the direction in which the wind was blowing. The trend and the direction of these surveys, by whatever name and channel, indicated an unequivocal and unambiguous direction which had two inevitable and inexorable consequences. One was that the Congress was going to emerge as the single largest party and second was that the Congress plus allies was the single largest alliance which would comfortably be able to form the government. He added that the Congress party was not entering into any speculation on the number of seats and that the party was confident that they would form the government. He said that the Congress party waas working with all like-minded, progressive, secular parties in the interest of India’s development. Dr. Manmohan Singh was the only Prime Ministerial candidate of the Congress party.

Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the Congress party had full faith and confidence in their allies, which were fully intact. Only those parties whose alliances were frail and suspect needed to show and demonstrate public proof he quipped. Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi further said that the Congress party would never partner with communal forces who have had and who have a divisive agenda like the BJP and the Shiv Sena. He added that the last days of ‘National Disastrous Alliance’ were close. The last days of ‘Rashtriya Damandol Alliance’ were here. This had been an alliance led by the BJP which had shown amply that they had no neta, no neeti, no netritva, no naitikta and no nishtha and all this added up to a big NO by the electorate on the 16th of May.

To a question on whether the Congress party was staring at the inevitable scenario of forming a minority government with the outside support of Left parties, Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the facts indicated that there was no question of a minority government. The Congress party was comfortably, easily and very comprehensively going to provide a stable majority government with the UPA allies after the 16th of May.

On a question whether the Congress party was gratified over Prakash Karat’s statement that the Left would not help a BJP government or the BJP supported government at the centre, Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that he did not intend to offer any comment. Certainly this was a good trend and development for anybody who was opposed in thought, deed and action to the non-secular divisive forces he added. Beyond that he did not wish to offer any comment.

To a further question on whether the Congress party would not need the Left support, Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that he was not saying anything in this regard but added that as the picture stood today the Congress and the UPA would comfortably and easily form the Government.

To a further question as to who constituted the UPA allies, Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that he did not intend to define it now. One was well aware of UPA allies and for an exhaustive list one would have to wait for 16th of May he added.

On a question that the Congress party was not talking to either Sharad Pawar, Lalu Prasad, Ram Vilas Paswan or Mulayam Singh Yadav during the elections and now Smt. Gandhi was talking to them in the hour of need, Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that all of them had repeatedly said that they were with the UPA and would remain with UPA alliance. Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi further added that it was quite natural that after the exercise of polling was over and when India was heading towards the ‘D’ day i.e. 16th of May, there would be exchange of thoughts and views between the different parties.

On a question on the US envoy visiting India and meeting Shri L.K. Advani and Chandrababu Naidu and interfering in the Indian elections, Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the US envoy has himself given a very specific clarification that he was doing nothing of that sort.

To a question on Sharad Pawar speaking to the Congress President and Congress President speaking to Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan leaving out the Samajwadi who had supported the Congress-led UPA government, Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi requested the press not to suggest to the Congress party the manner, mode and timing of their strategic moves. Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi added that many more things were happening without the knowledge of the media. Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the NCP for example has belied the media’s repeated ‘Naradmuni’ efforts when both the President of the NCP and Ms. Supriya Sule had unequivocally, unambiguously and categorically repeated their commitment towards the UPA.

To a question as to whether the Congress party was in touch with the BJD in Orissa, Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the rule was very simple. The Congress party could not be in interactive touch with any entity unless there was a genuine conviction that they were away from all non- secular formations and added that he was not in a position to either confirm or deny this and one had to wait and watch for a short while to find out.





(Tom Vadakkan)

Secretary, AICC