Press Briefing Monday, 24 August 2009

Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi addressed the media today.


Dr. Abhishek Singhvi said that some of the major issues affecting the very psyche and identity of this great nation include three, in particular, bringing of cash into the hallowed portals of Parliament; the riots in Gujarat taking a huge toll of innocent lives; and Kandhar. The nation has a vital stake and an unconditional right to know about these matters - on each of these matters - on each of these three - no less than a former Foreign Minister - a former Finance Minister of this country has told this country that no less than a former Deputy Prime Minister and a former Home Minister has been economical with the truth and has not followed the path of truth.

Dr. Abhishek Singhvi further made it absolutely clear that we are not concerned with the internal squabbles of BJP. Those are its own internal headaches but the country has a right to know - the country has right to question and indeed the country has a right to be sad and angry that someone who is a former Deputy Prime Minister and former Home Minister but more importantly aspiring to be a future Prime Minister - a permanent Prime Minister-in-waiting is guilty of prevarication to the nation in any functional and operative democracy. Such acts and omissions are crimes. They are crimes against democracy; they are crime against the aam-aadmi. They are also at the very minimum serious breaches of morality. At the least some one who constantly aspires to be a Prime Minister who has been a Prime Minister in waiting but more than that projected by supposedly responsible opposition as the future Prime Minister. At the least they and he must apologize to the nation. Though who till yesterday were preaching morality to us and to the nation, must now immediately be answerable. Those who were giving till yesterday lectures on ethics to us and the nation must forth with apologize unconditionally.

Dr. Singhvi further said that Gujarat was an assault on our psyche and secular psyche. Gujarat was a blot on India’s great image and I remember in those days there was a clamour for the Chief Minister’s resignation - remember also that everything ending with a sermon on ‘raj dharma’ and turning nelson’s blind eye, now we know perhaps who made that possible for the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Then secondly, Dr. Singhvi reminded that what happened in the ‘no confidence motion’ time in Parliament. Unprecedentedly for the first time in India’s democratic history, wads notes were brought in, flourished and demonstrated in the Parliament. The speaker took a serious; view the parliamentary committee investigating the matter subsequently took a very serous view. Now perhaps, we know who knew about the source of that money. Now perhaps we know which political party had organized that ‘naatak, notanki and drama’. Thirdly, I don’t have to talk of Kandhar in front of you. It was another plot – a damage to the proud psyche of a proud nation. Dr. Singhvi said that the media must have seen three spectacles. You saw the spectacle of our Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of that time disowning his own party, distancing from his own council of Ministers and you also saw even that time the huge contradictions in the book of Mr. Advani. You saw at that time Mr. George Fernandes, the then Defense Minister debunking the alleged lack of knowledge of Mr. Advani. Now again the then Foreign Minister and later Finance Minister has also exposed that rank dishonesty.

Dr. Singhvi said that ultimately it is not about BJP politics. That is their headache and good luck to them with it. It is about the path of honesty and rectitude which in each of these three cases has been blown to smitherings.

On the Swiss bank issue

To the question, Dr. Singhvi said that let me verify the facts. This is a matter for the Government and the Government is fully seized of the matter. Let us be clear that the Government is acting already and has promised to the nation to do everything in its power and jurisdiction to deal with this important public interest issue. After all the reaction which you are seeing as reported in the press in some quarters like Swiss banks is itself a result of Government action. Without Government action, there would be no reaction. But ultimately these are the matters beyond the territorial boundaries of India. There are technicalities, legalities and jurisdiction limits and within those constraints the Government and the Finance Minister is actively seized of the issue. Dr. Singhvi further assured that as it did earlier, every step will be taken including steps in the light of the responses received.

To a further related question, Dr. Singhvi said that had the Government not taken up this, responses would not have been there. In less than 100 days, we have taken steps which have already led to responses. We are not here to debate the correctness or error of those responses from extra territorial authorities. This is to be dealt with by the Government but when officially the Prime Minister and the Government, not once but many times, have assured and the steps have already been taken concretely even after this Government has again taken power. Dr. Singhvi said then the media should give it more time. These are technical legal matters which obviously take time to work themselves up.

On the legal issue of persecuting Shri Advani

To a further related question, Dr. Singhvi said that he personally believes that this is the first and foremost crime against democracy, second a crime against ethics and morality and third perhaps a crime against law as well which is a question you are asking. But the last point is not very important.

Dr. Singhvi further added that he does not think anybody is interested in making a martyr out of anybody. When it is back, that person should be an accused. He should not be allowed to be a victim of anything. He is the accused; he is the perpetrator - not alone but his party. Dr. Singhvi said that process has to start with an unconditional and unqualified comprehensive apology forthwith.



(Tom Vadakkan)

Secretary, AICC