Press Briefing Monday, 21st November 2011

Shri Manish Tewari addressed the media today.

Shri Manish Tewari said the winter session of parliament commences tomorrow. We completely and fully understand that politics is the life blood of democracy but politics should not become the sole business of democracy. It is legitimate to have a difference of perception on a particular issue or various issues. However, parliament is the institution and a platform where the differing viewpoints have to be discussed, debated and finally reconciled, if not resolved. It is important to also maintain the supremacy of parliament as envisaged in the constitutional scheme of things. This session of parliament takes place at a very important point of time. The crisis in the Euro zone countries and its implications in India is a matter of concern. There has been a very slow economic recovery in various other countries around the globe. There is important financial business, legislation which is under consideration in the pipeline and would be brought before the parliament. So, therefore, there is a whole menu of issues which require the attention of the elected representatives of the sovereign. If you may recall that the last winter session of the parliament was completely wiped out because of the CAG report. The facts which are now emerging in the public domain suggest that there may be a different end to the game. So, therefore, it is our appeal to all the political parties. All of them are equal stakeholders in democracy. Let us have a difference but let us allow the parliament to function.

On the question of the reaction of the Congress party on the recent judgment of High Court after the submission of SIT report in Ishrat Jahan case, Shri Tewari said that there is a need to study the verdict of the High Court. One thing is clear that in Gujarat different courts have given different views and commented differently on the fake encounters from 2001 to 2007-08, orders have also been issued for conducting investigations and action taken against the guilty. Now the recent judgment of High Court in Ishrat Jahan case stand testimony to such facts on which the Congress party and also the human right activists have expressed their concerns. We hope that after such directions, the ends of justice will be met in Ishrat Jahan case.

On the question of the view of the Congress party on different figures ranging from '0' loss to around Rs. 4.19 lakh crore in 2-G scam from within the CAG, Shri Tewari said since the JPC is in the process of recording the evidence, I would rather be circumspect on the question but you know it is very interesting that you have a figure of 'no' loss because there is a view from within the CAG that since the TRAI did not recommend the auction in 2-G spectrum and the government did not take a decision to auction it. So, therefore, there is no loss. Then there is another figure of Rs. 2,645 crores which the Principal Auditor who signed off on the report arrived at. Then there is a third figure of Rs. 5,388 crores which was also arrived at during the process of the report being formulated. Then you have a figure of Rs. 57,000 crores and then a figure of Rs. 69,000 crores, then a figure of Rs. 1.76 lakh crores and now you have this figure which has been tossed in the public domain of Rs. 4.19 lakh crores. Now it begs a question that if at all there been a loss, it can't go from '0' to Rs. 4.19 lakh crores. There has to be a determinate figure and, therefore, with all these huge figures being tossed in the public domain, I ask myself this question, are we really swinging from sublime to ridiculous because after all the objective of an audit is to pin point the loss. It cannot, from within the CAG, go from '0' to Rs. 4.19 lakh crores - something seriously is amiss there. Shri Tewari further said I can't comment on the internal deliberations of the JPC.

To a related question on the figure of alleged loss of Rs. 4.19 lakh crore, Shri Tewari said to bunch it together, what has appeared in the public domain is that the figure of Rs. 4.19 lakh crores was arrived at after calculating the equity infusion into a particular company and then projecting it across 120 companies. The reason why ostensibly that was not included in the report was on the premise that it was an equity infusion into an established player. Now if you apply the same logic, there was an offer by another established player on the basis of which the loss was computed Rs. 5,388 crores. So, therefore, why was that figure left out of the report? To your specific question as to how do we compute the loss? First of all let me reiterate what my colleague has said earlier, we do not accept the loss figure which has been put by the CAG and insofar as putting a final determinate figure on it whether at all the loss can be quantified or not which essentially means that there was 'no' loss or was there really a determinate figure which you put on to that amount, I think we should leave it to the wisdom of the JPC since they are going into question and they are taking evidence. I think we should wait for the outcome of their report. Shri Tewari further said I think the important question which the PAC Chairman needs to answer is if at all he confirms that he checked up from these companies, did he do this in his personal capacity or was there an institutional clarification sought by the PAC from these respective entities. I think it is extremely germing because if at all there was an institutional clarification, that puts the matter on a separate footing and if at all it was to the contrary, then there is something which needs to be gone into. The other thing I would also like to say that ultimately the PAC report on the entire 2-G spectrum issue was not adopted. It was rejected by the PAC and anything which is rejected by the PAC ceases to have any value. So, therefore, for anyone to extrapolate about a particular communication with a particular company, I don't think any clarification also holds water in the light of that report being rejected.

To another question on the statement of earlier team mate and blogger of Anna that he is not keeping his health and his team was exploiting him to carry on the agitation; Shri Tewari said it is inter-se between his blogger and him. We have nothing to comment on it.

On the question of the reaction of the Congress party over the fact that the UP Assembly has passed resolution for division of UP and whether the Congress party is in favour of the division, Shri Tewari said I think the answer is implicit in your question. Uttar Pradesh which has been considered to be heart of India. It can be anybody's imagination that no discussion on the issue took place or was not allowed to be taken up. Secondly, what is the essence of the bringing such resolution when the elections to the UP Assembly are just a couple of months away. Why was it not done before during their rule of 4/3-4 years? If somebody feels that the people of UP can be taken for a ride, then they are on the wrong. This is a politically motivated resolution and the people of UP will give them a befitting reply. Shri Tewari further added that the Congress party has been taking decision on any sensitive issue taking into account the national interest. Sensitive issues should be resolved through consensus so as to lessen the tension.

On the Telengana issue, Shri Tewari said if at all there is anything officially to be said, we will communicate the same. We should try not to comment on press reports. I think I have acquainted you ad-nausea that since it is an on-going process, the people who are engaged with the process namely our General Secretary In-charge or the Home Minister would be the best persons to answer this question given the sensitivity involved in it.

On the question of the reaction of the Congrerss party over the statement of Shri L.K. Advani during the rally of BJP yesterday that all NDA MPs will declare on oath declare that they do not have any black money parked in foreign banks and whether the Congress party proposes to follow suit, Shri Tewari said if at all the NDA Members of Parliament do wish to give a declaration or an undertaking, I think it is a welcome step. However, propriety demands, then they must also include in that undertaking that they do not have any assets or any unaccounted wealth in India also. Shri Tewari also said let those people who have initiated this proposal walk the talk because I do not think you can have two standards on black money - one for alleged assets which are parked abroad and the other one alleged assets which may be domestically generated. So, therefore, if the NDA MPs do choose to follow the advice which has been tendered, it would be appropriate that they should also include in their affidavit or undertaking that they have no black money in India also.

To a question on the reported statement of Denmark government on funding of NGOs agitating against the principles of the Indian government, Shri Tewari said since I have not come across such statement, it would not be appropriate to offer any comment on the same. It is a very well known fact that NGOs receive funds from foreign countries and it is further known to everyone that the NGOs which are/were actively participating against energy related dams or nuclear energy have been receiving grants from abroad to finance their agitations.

On the rally of Shri Rahul Gandhi from Barabanki tomorrow, Shri Tewari said we are fully prepared and would ensure that the rallies are forceful.




(Tom Vadakkan)
Secretary, AICC