Press Briefing Monday, 7 September 2009

Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi addressed the media today.

Dr. Abhishek Singhvi said that the demand of the BJP for immediate dissolution of the Jharkhand Assembly and threatened action in that connection is unreasonable and perverse. It is nothing but political gimmickry and melodrama. So you know the melodrama starts with a statement that all the BJP MLAs shall resign. Dr. Singhvi said that he wants to only point out 4 or 5 facets which prove that this is nothing but the usual BJP style of gimmickry, melodrama and ignoring the substance.

Firstly, it has been over 8+ months now since the Assembly was suspended. For 8 months there has been no credible demand for immediate dissolution. Suddenly now in September they have raised it for the first time. Secondly, having enjoyed the perks of office for 8 months, when they know elections are to be held in near future, the BJP MLAs are offering to resign. Thirdly, everyone knows that Jharkhand Assembly has to be in place by mid January 2010, so it is a question of only a couple of months or few weeks before the elections are going to be held and yet melodrama is created asking for the immediate dissolution of the Assembly. Fourthly, the exact date is always fixed by the Election Commission in consultation with Governmental authorities end everyone knows that Ramzan, Eid, Diwali, Dussehra and Chat Pooja have particular significance in that part in that region. Most importantly the National Games are scheduled in Ranchi in November. So it is obvious that all factors would be kept in
mind by the Election Commission. Then why is the BJP, which knows that elections are to be bound to be held in November, December or January, doing this political gimmickry. It is simple. They are fearful and scared about the good governance being experienced by the people of Jharkhand during Central President’s rule in that State. They are now beginning to feel the effect and are concerned that the good governance should not last till the elections. This is nothing but political gimmickry. This is nothing but melodrama. This is nothing but sensationalism without substance. And finally there is absolutely nothing in the constitution, nothing in the law and nothing in the convention or rules or the spirit whereby a suspended Assembly must be dissolved within any specified time period. The BJP, as the whole nation knows, that the Parliament has approved extension of President’s rule more than once in Jharkhand, nothing more or less is required and elections anyway are bound to come.

On a question of political situation in Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Singhvi said that this is not the first time that Government formation or Ministerial formation or Chief Ministerial formation nor the last time that this is being done by the Congress party. We have an established process and established system. We have told you time and again and would like to repeat that during the mourning period there is going to be no question of any activity or a decision on this front. We must respect several conventions. Dr. Singhvi assured that everything will proceed as per the established congress culture, practice and rules and you will continue to have the excellent governance model which the congress party has always projected and proved in front of you in Andhra Pradesh.



(Tom Vadakkan)

Secretary, AICC