Press
Briefing Tuesday, 6th January 2010
Smt.
Jayanthi Natarajan addressed the media today.
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan said that we wanted to express
our concern over the continuing attacks upon Indians
particularly Indian students in Australia. The External
Affairs Minister Shri S.M. Krishna has already taken
serious note of the continuing attacks upon young people
of Indian origin in Australia and the strong possibility
that these attacks may be racially motivated. This is a
matter of great concern and we would certainly expect
the Government of Australia to take the matter up with
utmost urgency and ensure that no such attacks occur
once again. These cannot be treated as random acts of
violence since it is abundantly clear after the series
of incidents last year that these attacks are directed
against students and young persons of Indian origin. The
concern expressed by the External Affairs Minister has
been communicated and we expect all other steps to
follow up. An advisory has been issued to Indian
students but those who are guilty of these acts of
racist violence in Australia must be brought to books in
a fashion that it is ensured that no such attack occur
in future.
On the question as to how can you expect to resolve
Telengana when your own party speaks in two different
voices at a meeting called by your own Government to
resolve this issue, Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan said that it
is very clear that Telengana is a subject upon which
there is strong opinion divided not along political
lines or party line but along lines of region. As far as
Indian National Congress is concerned, MPs and leaders
belonging to different regions have their own strong
points of view which is understandable but when the
party finally takes a stand; all our leaders will accept
the stand of the party. The stand which is to be taken
by the Government after the wider consultations and
after the entire ramifications are studied and when a
final view on the matter is taken, it will be very
clear.
On the question whether the party stands by the 9th
statement of the Home Minister, Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan
said that the statement of the Home Minister was based
upon the views that emerged from all party meeting which
was held by the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
Consequent upon that, all parties went back upon their
stand notably Telugu Desam and the PRP. All parties
stand divided on this issue and it was therefore felt
that wider consultations are necessary. She further
added that Home Minister has already spoken on this
yesterday and we have nothing further to add to Home
Minister's statement and added that certain situation
prevailed on the 9th and there after many other views
came to the fore. Now those views are being considered.
It is a dynamic and ever changing situation. All parties
had expressed their views differently after the 9th.
On the question that if there is a political will on
this issue, there is a provision in the constitution;
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan said that nobody disputes the
constitutional capacity or the power granted to
Parliament. The matter is also very political, emotional
and at the moment there is tremendous unrest and
therefore, it is in that background that first we call
for peace and a halt to all agitations and thereafter
for wider consultations.
On the question why show cause notice was issued to
certain people, Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan said that
General Secretary In-Charge of Andhra Pradesh must have
taken into account all aspects before issuing show cause
notice and these were issued to those people who were
considered to have deserved to receive those notices.
On the question of reaction of the party on such demands
of smaller states from other parts of the country, Smt.
Jayanthi Natarajan said that she was sure that there
will be demands from various parts of the country.
Already some demands are being made. Each is considered
on a separate footing.
Tom Vadakkan
Secretary, AICC
