Press
Briefing Wednesday, 30th December 2009
Smt.
Jayanthi Natarajan addressed the media today.
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan said that we have come to the
last briefing for 2009 and I just wanted to mention that
2009 has been an exceptionally important and successful
year for the Indian National Congress. For the first
time in many years, the incumbent Government at the
centre has been re-elected to Government and we see in a
large measure that this is a victory of the leadership
of the Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi, the Prime
Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the mobilization of
youth by our General Secretary Shri Rahul Gandhi. We
also see this as an important validation of core
Congress values of secularism and inclusive growth.
Several important legislative measures have also been
enacted in 2009 particularly the Right to Education Bill
in addition to important measures that were enacted in
earlier years which have received the support of the
people such as NREGA, Right to Information Bill, Law
against Domestic Violence, Law against Communal Violence
and other such laws.
Smt. Natarjan further said that several important laws
have been enacted and several important laws are on the
anvil. We also would like to refer to the fact that
after the gloomy and extremely unfortunate end to 2008
following upon 26/11, the Government has turned its
focus upon the major task of the fight against terror
and has succeeded to a large measure in keeping
terrorist forces at bay in 2009. That work continues and
will require the unity and commitment of Central and
State Governments and also of every single citizen. Our
Government has tried to keep it as the year free from
communal tension and we have to a great extent succeeded
in that effort as well. On the front of the economy,
despite a global recession, the Government has managed
to keep the focus upon inclusive growth. Not just growth
but growth that is inclusive in the sense that the
ordinary man and the disadvantaged section of the
society are also benefited by the social security net
and other benefits provided by various Government
initiatives. A great deal more needs to be done on this
front and the efforts and initiative against controlling
rise in prices will continue on a war footing on the
same lines as the successful tackling of this problem
that has happened over the year. The party has also won
assembly elections in several important States and on
the whole we have emerged as the largest and most
credible political formation in the country and in the
125th year of the foundation of the party, the entire
party once against rededicates itself on the lines
suggested by the Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi
and the Prime Minister on 28th December. Once again we
rededicate ourselves to the service of the nation.
On the question of the Congress party being not able to
form the Government in Jharkhand despite having good
number of seats, Smt. Natarajan said that she would not
characterize it in that way as far as Jharkhand is
concerned. The Government which has been formed there is
an unnatural formation of the vested interest. The BJP,
which had all along criticized Shri Shibu Soren and has
come down from 31 to 18 seats, has done an about-turn in
the most manipulative cynical fashion and cobbled
together an unstable Government there which demonstrates
a complete lack of political integrity.
On the question of political integrity, Smt. Natarajan
further said that the BJP, which had criticized and even
today various sections within the BJP still criticize
Mr. Shibu Soren, did not hesitate for the sake of
forming a Government to immediately change their state
of views and also the fact that they do not have the
mandate from the people to form the Government, is the
reason why she called it lack of political integrity.
On the question of creation of a separate State of
Telengana, Smt. Natarajan said this is an issue which
the Home Minister has already spoken about that far wide
ranging consultations are necessary and in view of the
fact that almost all political parties in Andhra
including the Telugu Desam and the Praja Rajyam have
changed their views and because of the prevailing unrest
wide ranging consultations are necessary. That is the
reason why the matter has been deferred until those
consultations are done. Our policy on Telengana is in
our manifesto. Our policy is very clear. Home Minister
made an announcement based upon a resolution that came
out of an all party meeting convened by the Chief
Minister of Andhra Pradesh. After that, following upon
the reversal of the position by major political
formations and other large sections of the people, wider
consultations have been called for.
Smt. Natarajan further added that this is a very
delicate matter where each step will have to be taken
after proper consultations. Regarding the actual
technical details, the Government will decide on how to
go about. This is an issue which is pending for over 45
to 50 years. We took a certain position in our manifesto
and thereafter resolution was passed at an all party
meeting. Based on the fact of all political parties
cutting across political lines, there has been a change
in the position and all these issues have to be
considered and it is sensible to consider all points of
view. That is the reason why we call it a sensitive
matter. Therefore, there is no reversal as such.
On the question of Ministers from Telengana region
resigning and whether the congress party will persuade
them to withdraw such resignations and also the
particular time frame decided for such wider
consultations in this regard, Smt. Natarajan said that
she is not in a position to fix the time frame. She
further added that such process is going on. The senior
party leadership is seized of the matter and we will
deal with all those issues within the party.
She said that all issues can be solved through dialogue
and she was confident that the Government will handle
the matter to the satisfaction of all concerned.
On the question of Mr. Vijayan seeking anticipatory
bail, Smt. Natarajan said that the Congress party
particularly in Kerala has always called upon Mr.
Vijayan to give an account of himself as far this case
is concerned and she believes that it is unfortunate
that a senior political leader has now found himself in
a position to seek anticipatory bail and we believe that
in the interest of political integrity, he should come
clean on his role in the matter.
On the question of the comments of Shri Shashi Throor
that visa policy needs to be liberal, Smt. Natarajan
said that already Shri SM Krishana from the Government
and Shri Janardan Dwivedi from the Congress party has
also spoken on this issue and she has nothing further to
add.
Tom Vadakkan
Secretary, AICC
