Press Briefing Monday, 9 November 2009

Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Shri P. Chidambaram and Dr. Abhishek Singhvi addressed the media today.


Shri Azad said that he has great pleasure in announcing that Shri Thirunnavukkarasar, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) has resigned from BJP and also submitted his resignation to the Chairman of Rajya Sabha and his admission to the Congress party has been approved by the Congress President. He was associated with Dr. MGR’s AIADMK right from the inception 1972 to 1977 and he was MLA from 1977 to 1999 for six consecutive terms. He was also Deputy Speaker, Tamil Nadu State Assembly from 1977 to 1980 and Cabinet Minister in Dr. MGR’s Cabinet from 1970 to 1987 holding important portfolios like Industry, Food and Civil Supplies, Co-operation and Housing, Handlooms and Textiles. In 1977 there was a split in AIADMK and he formed his own party MGR-ADMK. In 1999 he got elected to Lok Sabha and in 2002 he merged his party with BJP under the Chairmanship of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji. In 2002, he was Union Minister of State for Shipping during the NDA Government and in 2004 he was elected Member of Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh on BJP ticket. Now today he has resigned both from BJP and from Rajya Sabha and is admitted in the Congress party. Shri Azad said that he is very happy that our leaders from Tamil Nadu, PCC President, Shri Chidambaram Ji, Shri Wasan Ji, he talked to, each and everybody has welcomed him and he was sure after his joining the Congress party, the party would be further strengthened in the State of Tamil Nadu. Shri Azad said that he welcomes him on behalf of the AICC.

Dr. Abhishek Singhvi while addressing the media said that what has happened today in the Maharashtra Assembly is constitutionally impermissible and democratically shameful. It has to be condemned by all right thinking persons and parties. Its repercussions can be truly far reaching. Hindi is not merely a permitted or authorized language. It is the national language. Secondly, there is no question of insult or lack of respect to Marathi. If Hindi is the mother, Marathi is the Aunt or the elder sister. Use of one can never be an insult to the other. Now look at the repercussions. It cuts at the very root of Indian unity, Indian oneness, the right to live, to move, to work, to stay and to speak freely in any part of India as a proud Indian. Supreme irony is that you are having violence in the very temple of democracy. There is nothing which prevents dialogues; there is nothing which prevents the airing of even extreme views within Parliament or the Assembly. In fact, the most extreme views are protected from legal action if dialogue is done within Parliament or the Assembly but that can never be a licence for violence. That can never be a licence for threat and intimidation. This reaction is nothing but rowdy-ism personified. This reaction is really an erosion of India standing proud as a proud and tall democracy. It is a strong and proud democracy because we are united as one country. Dr. Singhvi reminded the media of what the national anthem contains. In those evocative words it says ‘Punjab Sindh Gujarat Maratha, Dravid Utkal Banga’ and goes on. That is the essence the idea of India which is negated when such actions take place within an Assembly or the Parliament and therefore, with all the force at our command, we condemn this very sad and unfortunate event.

On a question that why the Home Minister, who was present in the briefing today, was not willing to reply questions this issue, Dr. Singhvi said that he had not come here to address the briefing but had come for some other purpose.

On a further question whether any action will be taken against the MNS party, Dr. Singhvi said that appropriate action might be taken by the law after the registration of the proper FIR.

On another question whether the Congress party will demand any action against MNS from the Election Commission, Dr. Singhvi said that every thing is not demanded but it could be the social responsibility of all the parties.

On the question of MNS is patronized by the Congress party, Dr. Singhvi said that if this would be the case, we would not have condemned their action so loudly.

On a further question that there was no reaction from the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Dr. Singhvi said that he is not the Marshal and it is the responsibility of the Speaker of the Assembly to maintain peace in the Assembly.

On the misuse of the parole granted to Manu Sharma, Dr. Singhvi said that it is a legal process. The parole can be analyzed and can be cancelled also if proved contrary. Dr. Singhvi further added that parole granted to him should not be linked either with the Congress party or the Chief Minister of Delhi. He said that if the parole has been misused, the same can be cancelled also.

On the question of Madhu Koda having links with couple of Congress leaders, Dr. Singhvi said that it would not be appropriate to link the congress party leaders with Madhu Koda and requested the media to have patience till the law takes its own course.

On the question why RR Patil has once again been given the charge of Home in Maharashtra despite 26/11 incident, Dr. Singhvi said that had it been the case, the coalition of Congress party and the NCP would not have become victorious for the third time. The general public knows that there are certain things which are beyond the control of the Government and Dr. Singhvi reminded that RR Patil was not responsible for 26/11 but he had resigned at that time on moral grounds only. The electorate has given us the verdict by making us victorious the third time.





(Tom Vadakkan)

Secretary, AICC