Press Briefing
Wednesday, 20th April 2011
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan addressed the media
today.
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan said we wanted to
express our hearty congratulations to ISRO on
the successful launch of PSLV-16 - yet another
successful achievement of our Scientists, of our
scientific community and on behalf of Indian
National Congress, we would like to convey our
greetings to the entire team, our appreciation
of the work that has been done by the entire
team at ISRO and the scientific community of the
country and we hope that all their future
efforts continue to meet with even greater
success in the future.
To a question whether the Congress party will
reply to the letter of Shri Anna Hazare written
to Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Smt. Natarajan said she
has no idea.
To another question to the reaction of the
Congress party over the fact that Shri Amar
Singh, Shri Digvijaya Singh and Shri Salman
Khursheed were seen together in a public
function and whether Shri Amar Singh is joining
the Congress party, Smt. Natarajan said she has
no such information. This is the matter for the
leadership to decide.
On the question of the reaction of the Congress
party to the allegation that after losing a PIL
against UP government, Shri Jayant Bhushan son
of Shri Shashi Bhushan got a huge plot of land
in Noida, Smt. Natarajan said that is the matter
which I too saw in the media. It is a matter
which, I think, is for them to answer and we
would not like to comment upon something on
which we have no information.
On the question whether the continuation of Shri
Shanti Bhushan in the panel is tenable in view
of the fresh revelations against him and further
should he not resign on moral grounds, Smt.
Natarajan said that a committee has been set up;
certain issues have been raised by certain
sections of society. It is for the people
concerned to answer those issues. As far as
their continuation is concerned, I think, it is
for the government and for them to decide and
the committee which is already functioning. The
Congress party has no view on this.
To a question on the reaction of the Congress
party on the on-going agitation in Jaitapur in
Maharashtra especially in view of what had
happened in Fukushima in Japan, Smt. Natarajan
said I think the Environment Ministry is seized
of the matter. The Minister has gone into it in
great detail. The matter has been studied at
various levels in great detail. Government of
Maharashtra is also seized of the matter and I
am sure that both together will take a decision
in the best interest of energy security and also
environmental security.
Smt. Natarajan further said every single nuclear
plant in this country is being and will be
reviewed. There is an autonomous body for this
to review these issues. The Environment Ministry
is seized of the matter. Regarding nuclear
issues, there is entirely an autonomous body
that goes into safety issues and is studying the
matter whether it is Jaitapur or any nuclear
plant in the country; I think the issues are
equally serious. Fukushima is something that has
happened in the recent past. I have no doubt
that the authorities concerned, particularly
Nuclear Energy Regulatory Authority will take a
serious view of the matter and study all aspects
before arriving at a correct decision always
keeping in mind the balance between the need for
energy security and the need for security which
is paramount. Smt. Natarajan further said she is
absolutely sure that the Maharashtra Chief
Minister has acted and will act in the best
interest of the people of Maharashtra and in the
best interest of maintaining law and order.
On the reaction of the Congress party over the
prevailing situation in Puducherry and whether
it has devalued the post of the Governor, Smt.
Natarajan said the Congress party has nothing to
do with it. This is a constitutional post. The
Home Ministry is seized of the matter and I
believe any announcement will come either from
the Home Ministry or from the constitutional
functionary himself. We really have nothing to
say on this matter. Smt. Natarajan further said
we have not devalued the post of Governor.
Everybody is a former member of some party or
the other. At this point of time, the Congress
party has nothing to do with this matter. Once
you occupy the constitutional office, one ceases
to be the member of any party.
To a question over the charges made by the JPC
members of the civil society, Smt. Natarajan
said as far as charges against the Congress
party are concerned, I would like to reject
those charges as being frivolous and utterly
baseless. There is absolutely no need for the
Congress party to discredit anybody. Whatever
allegations are being made, are being made in
the public domain. It is for those who are
making the allegations and for those against
whom allegations are being made to deal it. To
turn everything on to the Congress party, it
just shows the bankruptcy of ideas and I totally
reject the suggestion that the Congress party
has anything to do with it. In fact, if there is
a single organization which is actually taking a
stand against corruption and acting upon it, it
is the Indian National Congress and no other
party or organization. Whenever something has
come in the public domain, it is only the Indian
National Congress that has actually acted upon
it transparently and immediately. No other party
or organization has ever taken action upon any
suggestion of corruption that has come in to the
public domain.
(Tom Vadakkan)
Secretary, AICC
