AICC Diary

16.8.2001 : Shri Anand Sharma briefed the press. (The briefing was primarily in Hindi, interspersed with brief statements in English.) Shri Sharma said that in his Independence Day address, the Prime Minister tried to hide his Government’s failures and gave false assurances to the people of India. Since Independence, when Prime Ministers addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, a blueprint of the Government’s vision for the country was presented. The Prime Minister’s Address from the Red Fort has had a tradition to be a morale booster for the people of India. In this case, the reverse has happened, the morale of the people has gone down. His speech was apologetic, defensive and full of platitudes. When Prime Ministers Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, Smt. Indira Gandhi, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri and Shri Rajiv Gandhi spoke on Independence Day, a message went out to the people of India and made them proud to be an Indian.

Shri Sharma said that the Prime Minister’s speech sounded like reading of an election manifesto. He was trying to tell the people of India, ‘Don’t worry, be happy.’ He has made light of the serious slowdown in the economy and the acknowledged loss of investor confidence both internally and internationally. The Prime Minister talked of ‘Sampooran Grameen Rozgar Yojana’, and making a provision of Rs. 10,000 crores for it. Is it not hoodwinking or misleading the people, where is the provision of Rs. 10,000 crores? Prime Minister has talked of job creation, there is a job loss on a daily basis. For the first time there is negative job creation. Industrial output has gone down to 1.2%, budgetary defecit has shown an alarming increase. India’s credit rating by international financial institutions has come down. The downgrading for investment purposes is not on macro factors but because of bad management and defecit. These are the two reasons cited for downgrading India for investment purposes. As a result not just investment but disinvestments process is suffering. Few months ago, the country was presented a ‘Dream Budget’, halfway through it has become the nightmare budget. The Prime Minister’s promises are therefore just an eyewash but an attempt to mislead the people. The Government doesn’t have the resources for this, and on the other hand the country’s financial situation is weakening. The Prime Minister has also said that resources will be generated from the banking industry. Presently, just the state of the UTI has come before us, the health of the rest of the banking industry, mutual funds and financial institutions should come out before the nation. The Government must come out with a white paper on this.

To a question on which election the Prime Minister had in mind, Shri Sharma said that this question should be put to the Prime Minister. His speech sounded like an election manifesto and not an address to the nation, which can inspire the people or raise the moral.

On being asked as to how it could be an election manifesto speech when the Prime Minister has admitted the slowdown in the economy, Shri Anand Sharma said that is exactly what we are saying. The issue here is that there are no funds for his announced grand schemes. The Prime Minister has tried to say that everything is hunky-dory in the country. The economy is in a bad shape, don’t worry. Banks are in a bad shape, don’t worry. He has just made hollow claims.

Asked for a reaction on the Prime Minister’s statement that the opposition should not believe in hearsay, Shri Anand Sharma said that the Prime Minister talked of corruption and blamed the opposition for creating any matter into a scam. The reality is that in his NDA Government, there has been one scam after another in which Cabinet Minister and senior leaders have been found guilty. The Government has not given any indication so far that it is willing to curb corruption, especially since members of the PMO are involved.

17.8.2001 : Shri Anand Sharma briefed the press. Shri Sharma said that as the media is aware, the Congress leadership had sent a committee to Madhya Pradesh. On the report of the committee, General Secretary incharge of Madhya Pradesh, Smt. Mohsina Kidwai has announced that the MPCC President, Shri R. K. Malviya will stay in his post but the entire PCC executive and office-bearers stands dissolved. The PCC will be reconstituted in due course.

Asked by what reasoning and logic had this been done, Shri Sharma said that after wide-ranging consultations with the leaders of Madhya Pradesh by the General Secretary incharge, this decision was taken. The committee felt the need for the reconstitution of the PCC.

To a question on whether the entire PCC executive has been found guilty after the shooting incident, Shri Anand Sharma said that it is the prerogative of the AICC to reconstitute and revamp any PCC.

21.8.2001 : Shri Jaipal Reddy and Shri Anand Sharma briefed the press. Shri Reddy said that the saga of UTI scam continues unabated. In the light of revelations made by former UTI chief, Shri Subramanium in the bail application. The Finance Minister owes a point-by-point explanation. We have for sometime been aware of the contents of the bail application. The Finance Minister denied having any knowledge of what had been going on in the UTI and denied any knowledge of the decision of UTI to suspend sale of US-64 units. Contrary to all the denials of the Finance Minister, Shri Subramanium in his bail application states the following ‘the petitioner had apprised the Government of India on 18th May 2001 and 30th June 2001 about the said situation. Left with no alternative even after indicating the same to the Government of India, a proposal was made to the Secretary Finance, Government of India by a letter dated 30th June 2001 by the petitioner in order to further apprise the Finance Minister of the said situation. The petitioner had met the Finance Minister on 2nd July 2001, who advised the petitioner to go ahead with the scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees on the same day at Delhi for either announcing US-64 at base-price or suspend sales and repurchase. The Board of Trustees of UTI took a unanimous decision to temporarily suspend sale and repurchase for a period of six months at its meeting on 2nd July.’

Shri Reddy said that the Finance Minister never took the country into confidence on this interaction with the UTI chairman. On the contrary he made every effort to feign ignorance of this interaction. In this bail petition explaining the decision why the investment was made in Cyberspace. The bail application states, ‘The petitioner also states that the Finance Minister, Shri Yashwant Sinha time and again made inquiries why decision was not taken to invest in UP and Bihar. The petitioner felt that the aspirations of the Finance Minister would be taken care of if some investments were made in the said states. Particularly in infotech field in which the UTI had not made much investments in UP.’ The petition also explains why he reversed the decision not to invest in Cyberspace, ‘At the relevant time, the petitioner was impressed by the fact that the Government of UP had extended their hand to partner with the said company. As the petitioner summarised that the Government of UP may have looked into the veracity and credentials of the company and its promoter before joining hands with the said company.’

Shri Reddy said that we would like to know whether the CBI is looking into the manner in which UP Government decided to become a partner in Cyberspace. The CBI has so far not looked into this aspect at all.

Asked if the Congress Party believed what Mr. Subramanium had said, Shri Reddy said that it is for the Finance Minister to come clean on this. To a question on the Congress Party’s strategy on the issue, Shri Jaipal Reddy said that Shri Yashwant Sinha had made a statement in the House, Shri Kapil Sibal raised it as a matter of privilege. This is under the Chairman’s consideration. Our plea is that the Finance Minister should tell the country whether he was aware in advance of the decision to suspend repurchase of units.

22.8.2001 : Shri Jaipal Reddy and Shri Anand Sharma briefed the press. Asked for the Congress Party’s reaction on the latest Tehelka controversy in Parliament, Shri Jaipal Reddy said that as for the methods and means employed by Tehelka Company as part of its string operation, it is for the media to think over, it is not for us to sit in judgement on these matters. While the methods adopted are certainly controversial they do not detract from the merit of the findings of the Tehelka Company’s operations. The fact remains that two Presidents of national parties were more than willing to receive money from people not known to them. The fact also stands that the President of the Samata Party took money in the official residence of the Defence Minister.

To a question on whether Shri Tarun Tejpal should be arrested, Shri Jaipal Reddy said that it is for the legal pundits to say, we have not consulted any on the matter. It is for the legal agencies to see if there is any scope for prosecution. Asked why then had the Congress Party demanded legal action against the BJP and Samata leaders, Shri Jaipal Reddy said that there was a candid camera that caught Bangaru Laxman and Jaya Jaitly receiving money. There was no scope for interpretation at all. To this date no FIR has been filed against either of them.

To a question on whether the Congress Party accepts Shri PA Sangma as the main negotiator of the Government of India, Shri Jaipal Reddy said that the Congress Party does not consider the choice of Shri Sangma as appropriate at all. Three Chief Ministers from North East expressed the opinion publicly that any person from the North East cannot display objectivity in dealing with the problems of the North East. It is known to everybody that the North East is characterised by ethinic diversity and complexities. On it being pointed out that Shri Tarun Gogoi had called Shri Sangma as the right choice for the job, Shri Reddy said that it appeared in the Telegraph of 4th August that Shri Gogoi opposed the choice of Shri Sangma. The Chief Ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland opposed the choice of Shri Sangma. Tarun Gogoi’s opposition was conveyed by him to us.

Asked if the opinion of the three Chief Ministers had anything to do with Shri Sangma’s differences with the Congress President, Shri Jaipal Reddy said that our view has been formed by the opinion of the three Chief Ministers. To a question on whether Shri Sangma was opposed on the directive of 10 Janpath, Shri Reddy said that he would like to repudiate this suggestion by all the humility at his disposal.

24.8.2001 : Shri Anand Sharma briefed the press. Shri Sharma said that this Government despite the objections in and outside by the Congress Party and other opposition parties remains undeterred in its approach to foist individuals identified with the ideology of the Sangh Parivar and those who are actively promoting their view point abroad. This Government has chosen to deviate from established norms in appointing a VHP-RSS activist in the United States of America, Shri Bhisham Kumar Agnihotri as an adviser in the Indian Embassy with the rank of an Ambassador. This decision has been taken contrary to the advise of the high level panel of the Ministry of External Affairs on the Indian Diaspora. It is very clear that the BJP-led Government is brazenly pursuing the line, which certainly does not serve any national interest. The Government has admitted that the concerned person is an activist. This action undermines the prestige and authority of diplomats who are serving the country’s interests.

Asked if it was legal for the Government to appoint an NRI, Shri Anand Sharma said that it is not a question of legality. NRIs all over are excelling in various fields. The association of NRIs with India is always welcome. The Indian Diaspora worldwide have done India proud. Can the Government arbitrarily pick up individuals and appoint them with the rank of Ambassadors in other countries that is questionable. We have an Ambassador in Washington in Shri Lalit Mansingh, former Foreign Secretary and an individual has now been appointed to the same rank because of one important qualification that he is an activist of the VHP.

Asked what would be the nature of Shri Agnihotri’s assignment, Shri Anand Sharma said that it is for the Government to explain the need and mandate.

To a question on the allegedly forged document presented by Shri Dasmunshi in Parliament during the discussion on Disinvestments, Shri Anand Sharma said that Shri Dasmunshi talked of three documents. First was on the Air India Disinvestments by global adviser Morgan Stanley and their nexus with the bidder, this was not denied. The second was on FERA violation by Indian Hotels, the FERA violation by Indian Hotels is under investigation. The third document was a secret office note of the Cabinet Secretary, which was critical of the Disinvestments and was denied by the Government and the Cabinet Secretary. Shri Dasmunshi there and then said that if it is so, he would be happy to not only withdraw and also to see that it is thoroughly investigated and probed. The document was cited on the floor of the House, as per Parliament’s rules of procedure it is a property of the House.

Asked for a reaction on the BJP Spokesperson’s allegation that the Congress Party is using forged documents in Parliament, Shri Anand Sharma said that the BJP Spokesperson apparently has opted for a diversionary tactic. When the Government has been on the ropes on many counts especially for the last few days. This particular document pertains to a larger issue on the Disinvestments process. Shri VK Malhotra has jumped the gun, it is not proper on the part of the Spokesperson to pre-empt the probe. We have maintained throughout that there is no transparency in the Disinvestments process. Shri Malhotra also mentioned the earlier accusations by the Chattisgarh Chief Minister on BALCO. We stand by his statement, BALCO disinvestments was opaque and has not yet been probed. To a pointed question on Shri Arun Shourie’s statement that interested parties are circulating documents in the House, Shri Anand Sharma said that we will be happy if he can further enlighten the nation on this matter.

27.8.2001 : Shri Jaipal Reddy and Shri Anand Sharma briefed the press. Shri Jaipal Reddy said that inspite of the wishy-washy clarification issued by the Prime Minister today in Lok Sabha, we are deeply disturbed by the dangerous practice that the Prime Minister has of late developed, of indulging in periodical brinkmanship on Ayodhya. Yesterday, the statement at Lucknow was unwarranted. What is worse, his statement was not based on any facts. The fact of the matter is that the Government has not been talking to any significant Muslim groups at all. His statement to say the least was most untrue and intended to mislead the people. It was primarily an election ploy meant for Uttar Pradesh. Since December last year, the PM has been of and on indulging on Hindutva stances. It is bad not only for a person who is occupying the Prime Minister’s office but very harmful from the viewpoint of the health of India’s polity. The statement has not only caused consternation among minorities but also among all secular-minded sections of the country. The Prime Minister’s clarification has not allayed the doubts of people on this issue. The Prime Minister is more interested in satisfying the Vishwa Hindu Parishad than in protecting India’s constitution. Well known Babri Masjid Action Committees, all of them have in one voice contradicted not only the PM’s position but the truth of his statement. The Prime Minister has not been able to name organisations with whom his Government was interacting. He brushed aside this issue on the pretext that disclosure of names is not in the interest of the nation.

On Gujarat, Shri Jaipal Reddy said that it may be recalled that BJP has been projecting Gujarat as their model state. Everybody is aware of the miserable performance of Gujarat Government in the wake of earthquake. Gujarat also has come to be known for periodical communal rioting and the communal rioting in Ahmedabad has been continuing for three days in spite of curfew. Gujarat is one state where BJP has two-thirds majority on its own. The fear of minorities, be they Christians or Muslims, have been enhanced during its regime in Gujarat. BJP lost miserably in the elections of rural local bodies but its Government refused to mend its ways. So much for the model governance BJP can provide in the country.

To a question on the incident in Asind, Rajasthan, Shri Jaipal Reddy said that the idols which were forcibly placed where the Masjid stood earlier were removed through amicable settlement. Both the communities were made to sit by the State Government, the remaining part of the problem will be solved very soon.

Ban on SIMI ill-timed Smt. Ambika Soni, General Secretary, AICC issued the following statement on 28th September, 2001 on the ban on SIMI : "The Congress party is opposed to fundamentalism of any and every religious group. While dealing with this retrograde phenomenon, there is an imperative need to be even handed. The BJP-led government has abandoned even the pretence of sectarian neutrality. While imposing ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India, it has deliberately turned a blind eye to the nefarious record of organisations like those of Bajrang Dal. Bajrang Dal has the odious reputation of having been involved in the ghastly murder of Graham Steins and two of his sons in Orissa, planned attacks on the Christain Missionaries in Gujarat, and organising training in firearms to its cadres in Uttar Pradesh. Apart from being lop-sided, the action on SIMI is ill-timed. Just when the international environment is exceptionally tense, it is not in the national interest to take any steps that would disturb the domestic scene. But the BJP is far more interested in reaping the electoral harvest in UP by seeking to divide the people on communal lines than in the enlightened self-interest of the nation. We are sure that this naked attempt to fan communal discord is not going to help the BJP in UP, as the people there are thoroughly disgusted with its misrule and clearly determined to inflict a dismal defeat on BJP in the forthcoming elections in UP.

28.8.2001 : Shri Anand Sharma briefed the press. (The briefing was primarily in Hindi, interspersed with brief statements in English.) Shri Sharma said that the arrivals and departures within the NDA epitomises the political opportunism of the worst kind. The ongoing developments and the changes of composition of the ruling NDA alliance has painfully underscored that this is an alliance which is not based on any principles nor is it based on any value-based politics. It is an opportunistic alliance between the desparate political formations who have come together for one common factor, that is, their unprincipled lust for power. The Prime Minister and the BJP had claimed in their last election manifesto that they are a party with a difference but the example they have set is before you.

On CNG issue, the people of Delhi have been facing extreme problems because CNG is just not available. The Central Government and the BJP on this issue are indulging in double speak. The Central Government had assured the Supreme Court that they would provide adequate quantities of CNG and that they would provide Delhi as many filling stations as required. Now they are trying to put all blame on the Delhi Government. For the last five months, CNG is not available, mile-long queues can be seen at every filling station. Two Delhi BJP leaders, Madan Lal Khurana and Sahib Singh Verma, both former Chief Ministers, have called for this strike. The Central Government has failed to honour the undertaking to the apex court. BJP by this strike is trying to deflect attention from the miserable failure of its Government. CNG has been given a new definition by the BJP, ‘Complete Non Governance’.

To a question on the scam pertaining to the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shri Anand Sharma said that the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh has promptly taken up this matter. He has written to the Prime Minister requesting him voluntarily, to order a probe by any agency. The Chief Minister has vehemently denied the charges and said that this seems to be the handiwork of vested interests with malafide intentions. The Chief Minister has placed his assets for open scrutiny on the floor of the assembly. He has also apprised the Congress President about the entire matter.

30.8.2001 : Shri Anand Sharma briefed the press. (The briefing was primarily in Hindi, interspersed with brief statements in English.) Shri Sharma said that the Congress Party deeply mourns the passing away of Shri G. K. Moopanar, President of the Tamil Manila Congress and senior Tamil Nadu leader. Shri G. K. Moopanar was wedded to the traditions of the Congress Party for a long time and to the Congress ideology. During his long innings of active political life, he made a notable contribution not only to the politics in Tamil Nadu but enriched the political and social activism at the national level. In his demise, a void has been created which can never be fulfilled. Shri Moopanar had an emotional link to the Nehru family. He worked closely with Smt. Indira Gandhi and Shri Rajiv Gandhi. The Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi held him in high esteem and she had left for Chennai this morning. The Congress President was scheduled to go there earlier, to enquire about his health but unfortunately he passed away early this morning. In his death, the people of Tamil Nadu and the nation have lost a leader who was known for his humility, his dedication and warmth.

Shri Anand Sharma said that the statement of Shri D. P. Roy, former Faizabad SSP who later became and MP of the BJP, lifts the veil of a liberal and moderate leader as the Prime Minister has been projected by his party and media managers. This disclosure is shocking that Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee was privy to the BJP leadership’s plans regarding the Babri Masjid. It has become imperative that the Prime Minister come clean on this and that the Commission and agencies investigating the shameful happenings at Ayodhya on 6th of December, must take a serious note of this claim. It is therefore very clear that this Government which has been actively pursuing a diabolic agenda to distort history and misrepresent what India stands for, especially to the younger generation by changing curriculum. All what has been done had the sanction, we shall presume, of the Prime Minister himself. We had earlier raised another matter of serious concern, i.e. saffronisation of diplomacy. As far as the foreign policy is concerned, we have throughout had a bipartisan approach, even when he had differences, yet a consensus prevailed in India’s foreign policy. This Government is departing from that tradition. This matter was raised in the Lok Sabha today by the opposition, the Deputy leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party, Shri Madhavrao Scindia pointed out on the floor of the House, this departure in the appointment of Shri Agnihotri who is identified with the VHP and the RSS. Shri Scindia also pointed out that this undermines the position of the serving Indian Ambassador, Shri Lalit Mansingh. The communal agenda of the Sangh Parivar is being carried overseas. As the Government chose to defend rather than accept the opposition’s demand for reconsideration of this decision and withdrawal of the appointment, the entire opposition staged a walkout.

31.8.2001: Shri Jaipal Reddy and Shri Anand Sharma briefed the press. Shri Reddy informed the media that the Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi along with Dr. Manmohan Singh, Shri Madhavrao Scindia and Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan and Assam will meet the Prime Minister at 5.30 this evening. The Congress delegation headed by the Congress President is meeting the Prime Minister to emphasise the urgency and paramount importance of strengthening the Public Distribution System and for devising a national programme to provide food for work. In her speeches to the CPP and in Parliament, Smt. Sonia Gandhi emphasised the paradoxical asymmetry between the overflowing granaries and the increasing starvation death reports. More than 50 million tonnes of food grain are rotting in the granaries while the people belonging to the vulnerable sections and vulnerable areas are famishing. We can’t afford to turn a blind eye to this, it is a wholly avoidable tragedy.

On Tehelka, Shri Reddy said that according to reports in the press, the Government’s advocates are trying to say that the Tehelka expose was organised and is responsible for the severe stock market crash. We object to this on two grounds. The Government has no business in providing alibis for the accused in the Tehelka case. The Government has to assist the Tehelka Commission and not provide elaborate and lame excuses for those arraigned before Tehelka Commission. We object to this on both moral and procedural grounds. The job of the Government is not to defend the accused. The Government’s advocates must spend their energies in assisting the Commission to ascertain the truth. Instead the Government itself is seeking to mislead the Commission through a number of diversionary ploys. That is the reason why we objected to any judicial commission. In the months to come it will be realised how valid was our demand for JPC. The Tehelka expose by itself could not have been given the credit or discredit for the crash in the stock market. The first Black Friday took place within 24 hours of presentation of Mr. Sinha’s dream budget. This was on 1st of March. The rumours about Ketan Parekh’s financial problems were responsible for the 1st March market crash. Once the financial flanks of Parekh were more and more exposed, the bear cartel jumped into the pitch and the second Black Friday followed. The Tehelka expose took place on 13th of March.

Shri Jaipal Reddy said that Mr. George Fernandes tried to chart out this theory in Lok Sabha, tried to blame Tehelka expose and saw an international conspiracy in the stock market crash. Mr. George was laughed at, he was laughed out of the House and laughed out of the court. This great parliamentarian had to beat hasty retreat, this debunked theory was resurrected by the Government through its advocates before the Tehelka Commission. It is very clear that the motives of the Government are far from straight. In addition to the accused, the Government also is getting increasingly brought under the cloud of Tehelka expose. As Smt. Sonia Gandhi emphasised both in Lok Sabha and the CPP meeting, we certainly do not approve of the methods adopted by Tehelka. But nothing detracts from the truth exposed by Tehelka.

On Ayodhya, Shri Reddy said that Mr. DP Roy was SSP on the spot in Faizabad. For having to collude with the Sangh Parivar in its conspiracy to demolish the Babri mosque, he was awarded ticket twice by the BJP. The Prime Minister did attend the meeting on 2nd December and left Lucknow for Delhi the same evening. We demand a detailed explanation from the Prime Minister of all these facts. To a pointed question on whether the Congress Chief Ministers will attend the Conference of non-BJP CMs called by the West Bengal Chief Minister, Shri Jaipal Reddy said that the Congress Party has not yet taken a decision. We will be taking a view soon.

- Tom Vadakkan
Media Secretary

Firing in Lucknow : Demand for Probe The Congress party on 28th September strongly protests at the police brutality and the killing of three people in Lucknow yesterday. On hearing of the incidents, Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, rushed a Congress team led by Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, General Secretary incharge of Uttar Pradesh and CLP leader, Shri Pramod Tiwari. Shri Azad was in Kanpur in connection with the ‘Parivartan Yatras’ being held all over UP. Accompanying the Congress team to Lucknow were Shri Sarvshakti Singh, leader in the Upper House, Shri Ram Naresh Yadav, former Chief Minister, Shri Jagdambika Pal, former Chief Minister, MLAs, MLCs and thirty-five office bearers of the UPCC including Shri D.P. Vora. They were proceeding towards the affected area when the police and district authorities stopped them. Even their request to visit the injured in the hospital was refused. The Congress team had, therefore, no option but to sit on Dharna in protest, the senior Congress team were not only prevented from ascertaining the truth but were taken into custody. This attitude of the UP Government is reprehensible. It is clearly an attempt to gag the voice of moderation and reason, and to ferment communal passions. The heavy handed approach of the UP Government is part of its cold-blooded strategy to polarise the people on religious lines. The Congress party demands a high-level inquiry into the police brutality and the killing of people. We demand that the culprits are booked whatever position they may hold in the administration.