Press
Briefing Monday, 21st February 2011
Shri
Abhishek Singhvi addressed the media today.
Shri Singhvi said that all Parliamentary Session are
important but constitutionally some are more important
and the Budget Session can be characterize to be
important for a variety of reasons. Not least of which
of course that the budget for the whole country is laid
in this session, it is the longest session. But,
particularly because the constitution mandates that the
session must start with the address of the Hon'be
President. This is not a mere formality, it is intended
to be a road-map for the future, for the whole year laid
out by the Government through its representatives to the
people of India. It is intended to be the most important
communication of the Government of the day, speaking
through the Hon'ble President to the people of India and
its representation. It is supposed to candidly state
issues of concern. It is supposed to reflect the past
performance and lay out the policies, the will of the
government, the intent of its ministries for the future.
It, therefore, is also intended to invite objections,
dissonant a contrary view point on significant issues of
moment which affect the people of India but this time,
speaking through the opposition. It is interesting to
note that prior to an amendment of the Constitution you
could do nothing in Parliament, the very first item of
business had to be the President's address and we should
remember the importance, the majesty and the
significance of this constitutional ritual which is much
more than a more ritual. It is a matter of substance. We
hope and trust that this very comprehensive message
fulfills the very serious concept which was in the mind
of the framers when this was created. This is not the
time to debate the correctness of those policies but I
think the single most important paragraph of that
statement of that message which summarizes accurately
the sense and the spirit at the beginning of the
parliamentary year and that is para-6, which in five
focus points gives you the heart and soul of the
message. It is very candid, its very straight forward,
it tells you firstly that inflation is a foremost
priority and within that list of foremost priorities, it
is listed as number one. It tells you the concerns, the
candid, the serious, the genuine concerns of the
Government regarding the lack of probity and integrity
in public life. It lists foremost priorities at number
three, the sustenance of the direction and the momentum
of the economic growth at the cost of but the growth
with inclusion. It uses the significant words
'uncompromising vigil' as far as security, external or
internal, is concerned and finally it hankers us to a
foreign policy which will give India its true place in
the community of nations. We therefore, welcome warmly
the Hon'ble Presidents' address. We have no doubt that
by the most efficient, uninterrupted, unobstructed
functioning of Parliament, the intent of the business
will be fulfilled throughout the session, both
pre-recess and post-recess through productive exchanges
and since this is such a large canvas where we have
nothing to hide, we welcome the most vicious, the most
vigourous criticism but in Parliament. We can therefore
only and with the hope and trust that the tryst of the
people with its representatives is properly fulfilled in
Parliament and that we see constructive result-oriented
discussion, doing concrete good through Parliament for
this nation.
To a question that this is not the first session of
Parliament that starts with the Presidents' address,
Shri Singhvi said that it is not only important with the
Budget Session. In our constitution, prior to the first
amendment the rule was that Parliament could not start
without the President's address, in other words you
could not have Parliament meeting at all in any given
year unless the President first started it. Then they
had to amend the constitution slightly to ensure that it
doesn't happen that by chance the President comes five
ministers late or 2 days late, then Parliament would not
function. So, you need not technically have it as the
first business but you can have it as the second or the
third business. But obviously, it is vital because
President, namely the Central Government addresses,
communicates, interacts with its public, with its Jantha
through this, as for a Parliament is concerned.
To a question as to why the Congress did not agree to
JPC earlier? It is clear that the question has to be
addressed to those who obstinately and insisted on a JPC.
In fact our conduct proves beyond doubt that every
possible flexibility and bending over backwards to
ensure the functioning of Parliament has been done by
the UPA and no one else. Although we have proved beyond
doubt that the JPC would not significantly add to the 8
or 9 policies initiatives already underway. Despite that
over the last three months every possible move and
accommodation and if might call it concession has been
made by us. We have offered everything possible to make
Parliament function. As I speak there is no announcement
or formal move a JPC. Therefore, I would not like to
accede or deny what you have said. You have to wait and
watch when the business of Parliament beyond President's
address gets going but certainly I can only say that us
and us alone who have not only demonstrated the will and
the intent to make it function but have actively taken
steps at each stage from November till today to try to
implement and actualize that.
To a question as to what happens to the PAC if the JPC
is held? Shri Singhvi said that it is partly
hypothetical question you are asking but in the event
but subject to all that I don't see any Constitutional
prohibition on the existence of the two. On the issue of
Telegangana slogans by some Congress MPs, Shri Singhvi
said that certainly there is a time and place for
everything. I have just explained to you with the
Constitutional significance of the President's address
and certainly its applies to everybody, I am not talking
only of this or that group, this or that issue,
everybody has to maintain the dignity and the decorum of
what in one sense is the inaugural address of the
Parliament but one can also understand the emotions, one
can understand that this is not only emotive but a
complex issue and I think all right thinking persons,
certainly from our party are aware of the bonafides and
the sincerity of this government in trying to work-out
step by step, phase by phase sequentially a sincere
solution to a complex problem which as you know is not a
question of one stake holder prospective or two stake
holder perspective, its a multi prospective from various
diverse quarters.
To a question that Yashwant Sinha in an interview
challenge the intension of the Prime Minister in 2G
scam, Shri Shinghvi said that it is for you to ask those
who use harsh and unnecessary words as to why they use
them. I think a dignified restraint should be adopted
when dealing with specially with the Prime Minister's
utterances but to each own choice of words, all I can
say is Mr. Yashwant Sinha and others of his viewpoint
will have ample opportunity as we already have (a) in
the PAC, and (b) other appropriate institutional fora
which are available. So it is no point making
declaration of intent in the media, who is right and who
is wrong has to be seen in the processes and proceedings
of these multiple fora.
To a question on the land scam issue in Uttrakhand, Shri
Singhvi said there is a special definition of law in
this country as far as BJP ruled states are concerned
under the Prevention of Corruption Act, these laws are
not effective in two states, that is, Uttrakhand and
Karnataka.
To a question that Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi has asked
for CBI enquiry in the CWG scam, Shri Singhvi said that
where is the question of Congress Party commenting in an
ongoing criminal proceeding. This is criminal
proceeding, it is also administrative proceeding at
various levels going on. Individuals may comment and
there is no question of Congress Party getting in to it.
To a question on swapping of prisoners in lieu of
abducted Collector of Orissa by the Naxalites, Shri
Singhvi said that at the moment I would like to say
nothing because this is a very sensitive matter and his
life is at stake, so I think we do not know the internal
processes, we are not privy to the internal processes,
it would be irresponsible on my part or the party to
comment at this point.
Tom Vadakkan
Secretary, AICC
