24, AKBAR ROAD, NEW DELHI

COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT

Highlights of Press Briefing                    

                                                                                                 28 April, 2022

Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, MP, Rajya Sabha addressed the media at AICC Hdqrs, today.

डॉ. अभिषेक मनु सिंघवी ने पत्रकारों को संबोधित करते हुए कहा कि आज कुछ दाल के बारे में बात होगी और ये तड़के वाली दाल नहीं, इसमें तड़का रिवर्स डायरेक्शन में है। मोदी जी ने कहा था कि ‘ना खाऊंगा, ना खाने दूंगा’, लेकिन आज मोदी जी दाल और अनाज…, उनकी सरकार खा भी रही है और खाने दे भी रही है, खिला भी रही है।

‘भाजपा सरकार देखिए करती है कैसे कमाल,

अपनी जेब भरने को खा गई है गरीबों की चावल और दाल’।

ये थीम है आज की और ये थीम संबंधित है इस बात से कि –

‘पिछले 8 वर्षों में किस नेता ने कैसे कमाया है, माल,

छीनकर कटोरे से और कटोरी से रोटी और दाल’।

ये किस्सा और कहानी ‘नाफेड’ (NAFED) के सिलसिले में शुरु होती है। जैसा आप जानते हैं ये एक राष्ट्रीय कॉपरेटिव है, जो कल्याणकारी योजनाओं के लिए जो लाभार्थी होते हैं, जो ऑब्जेक्ट्स होता है कार्यक्रमों के लिए, उनको सहूलियत से सामान पहुंचाने के लिए बनाई गई है। अब जो मैं आपसे आज बात कर रहा हूं, वो बहुत ही संक्षिप्त बात है, बड़ी सरल बात है। इसलिए मैं पहले आपको संक्षिप्त में समझा दूं कि क्या बात है, इसलिए मैंने ये अभी कुछ मुहावरे कसे।

बात बड़ी सरल इसीलिए है कि 2018 के पहले क्या नीति थी और 2018 के बाद किस प्रकार से एक नीति बदलाव करके इस सरकार की नाक के नीचे उन्होंने हजारों करोड़ रुपयों का घोटाला किया, बल्कि उसको प्रोत्साहन दिया, उसको फैसिलिटेट किया। ये ऐसे हुआ कि 2018 के पहले दाल के विषय में बड़ा एक सरल नियम था, इसी ‘नाफेड’ के सिलसिले में। अगर उदाहरण के तौर पर 100 किलोग्राम चना उपलब्ध होता, तो वो दिया जाता था जो लोग बिड करते थे, उनको चने से दाल बनाने के लिए। वो बिड करते थे कि इस प्रक्रिया कि हम चने से दाल बनाएंगे, इसके लिए आप सरकार हमें ‘X’ रुपया दीजिए। वो ‘X’ रुपया जो न्यूनतम बिड करता था, उसको कॉन्ट्रैक्ट मिल जाता था। रुपए के आधार पर था। आप समझ रहे हैं मैं क्या कह रहा हूं कि कन्वर्ट करने के लिए जो सबसे लोएस्ट बिड होगी वो जीतेगी, एल- वन। साथ-साथ एक और कंडीशन थी कि अगर मैं 100 किलोग्राम इनको दे रहा हूं तो उसमें से आप कितना निकाल कर दाल देंगे वापस। 70 किलोग्राम की दाल निकालेंगे, 75 की निकालेंगे, 80 की निकालेंगे और तीसरी कंडीशन महत्वपूर्ण थी कि इस दाल निकालने के आंकड़े में एक न्यूनतम मापदंड दिया था कि दाल तो निकालेंगे आप, हम आपको पे करेंगे और जो एल-वन होगा, वो जीतेगा बिड, लेकिन दाल निकालेंगे आप, तो वो कम से कम इतना, कभी 80 किलोग्राम, कभी 70 किलोग्राम, कभी 65 किलोग्राम का एक न्यूनतम मापदंड था, इससे कम आप दाल नहीं निकाल सकते। ये थी स्कीम पहले की। ये चल रही थी सरकार के आदेश के अंदर, ‘नाफेड’ के आदेश के अंदर। इसको कहा जाता था फ्लोटर रेट या लोअर रेट प्रोसेस। इसमें एक अहमियत थी कि मिनिमम कितनी दाल निकालेंगे, उसकी एक सीमा बनी थी न्यूनतम लेवल पर।

2018 के बाद ये जो बदलाव हुआ नियम का, उससे ये स्कैम उजागर हुआ। उसके कारण ये स्कैम पैदा हुआ। बदलाव ये हुआ कि उन्होंने पहले तो एल-वन न्यूनतम वाली बिड का सिस्टम खत्म कर दिया। अगर मैं इनको 100 किलोग्राम चना दूंगा और ये उसको कन्वर्ट करके दाल देंगे, तो उस प्रोसेस के लिए ये बिड करेंगे, 10 रुपए, 20 रुपए, 50 रुपए, वो न्यूनतम बेसिस पर जीतेगा आदमी बिड। ये सिस्टम हट गया। जो 2018 के पहले था। दूसरा चेंज, अब ये बात हुई कि आप सिर्फ ये बताइए कि मैं आपको 100 किलो ग्राम चना दे रहा हूं, आप कितनी दाल निकाल कर देंगे मुझे और जो सबसे ज्यादा दाल निकालेगा, उसको मिलेगा कॉन्ट्रैक्ट, ये 2018 के बाद के बदलाव हैं।

ये दो सरल बदलाव थे। इससे घोटाला कैसे हुआ – सबसे बड़ा घोटाला इसमें इस कारण से हुआ कि जब मैंने कहा कि मान्यवर आपको मैं दे रहा हूं 100 किलोग्राम, आप मुझे सबसे ज्यादा कितना देंगे, बताइए तो मैंने एक न्यूनतम लिमिट नहीं रखी। जो न्यूनतम लिमिट पहले थी, तो आदमी अगर आपस में अगर बड़े-बड़े लोग कोई कार्टल बना लें या एक सहूलियत के लिए साझेदारी बना लें, तो कैसे हम इससे ज्यादा निकाल नहीं सकते, 60 है सबसे हाईएस्ट। अब जो हाईएस्ट होगा 60 किलोग्राम, वो मानना पड़ेगा सरकार को। ये नहीं कहा कि आप हमें बता सकते हैं हाईएस्ट कौन होगा, लेकिन न्यूनतम 70 होना चाहिए, न्यूनतम 75 होना चाहिए, वो हटा दी गई कंडीशन। दूसरी प्रॉब्लम इसमें ये हुई कि लोएस्ट बिडर हट गया, क्योंकि अब बिडर के आधार पर होता नहीं था, अब होता था कि कौन कितनी दाल निकालकर देगा।

नंबर तीन, इसका दुष्प्रभाव क्या हुआ, तीसरा दुष्प्रभाव ये था कि जो 10, 15 बड़े मिलर होते हैं, ये इनके काबू में पूरा सिस्टम आ गया। जब आप 100 क्विंटल देते हैं, मतलब 100 क्विंटल या 1,000 क्विंटल होते थे, तो सिर्फ बड़े मिलर ही इसको जल्दी कर सकते थे, आसानी से कर सकते थे। बड़े मिलर तीन-चार सिर्फ, अगर साथ हो जाते, तो आपको एक फिगर देते कि हम तो 100 किलोग्राम का 60 ही बनाएंगे और आपके पास कोई न्यूनतम मापदंड नहीं था कि मिनिमम आपको 75 तो बनाना ही पड़ेगा।

इससे सब जो मैंने आपको प्रक्रिया समझाई, इसका पूरा फिगर जो सीएजी ने, ये मैं नहीं कह रहा हूं, ये बहुत महत्वपूर्ण है। इसके कारण जो नुकसान हुआ वो 4,600 करोड़, 2018 के बाद इस बदलाव से लगभग 4 साल में हुआ है, 4 साल से कम में, 2018 से 2022 के पहले। 4,600 करोड़ लगभग 5.4 लाख टन का मामला था दालों का। अब कितना दाल में काला है, कितना चोर की दाढ़ी में तिनका है, कितना काला ही काला है, उसमें वो ऑकेजनल थोड़ी बहुत दाल है या सिर्फ दाल में काला है, इसका अनुमान आप लगा सकते हैं। साढ़े चार हजार करोड़ हम अभी पौने चार वर्ष की बात कर रहे हैं और 2018 के बाद कर रही है, ये हमारे आंकड़े नहीं है, ये सरकार का है, सब कुछ इस सरकार के दौरान हुआ है। एजेंसी सरकार की है, ऑडिटर सरकार की है, ‘नाफेड’ सरकार का है, जहाँ तक नियंत्रण का सवाल है।

अब इसके ऊपर लिखित रुप से विरोध भी हुआ कि आपने ये क्यों बदल दिया। आप वापस पुराने वाला करिए नियम, जो मैंने आपको समझाया था। 2021 में ये लिखित रुप से ये 11 अक्टूबर, 2021 में खुद ‘नाफेड’ ने 11 अक्टूबर, 2021 में ये विरोध किया लिखित रुप से चिट्ठी द्वारा। जहाँ तक आंकड़ों का सवाल है, इस तारीख यानी अक्टूबर, 2021 के बाद भी लगभग 875 करोड़ का और नुकसान हुआ है, क्योंकि नियम बदला नहीं गया।

अब बाकी आंकड़े आपको देने की आवश्यकता नहीं है, क्योंकि मोटी बात समझनी है। जो कालापन है इस दाल में वो 4,600 करोड़ का, 4 वर्ष से कम में, पौने चार वर्ष में है। ये निकला कैसे बाहर – कई बार हमें कई चीजों के लिए कोविड का शुक्रिया देना पड़ता है,  नहीं तो ये घोटाला चलता ही रहता। कोविड का शुक्रिया इसलिए क्योंकि कोविड के वक्त बात हुई कि कुछ दाल, कुछ ऐसे खाद्य पदार्थ मुफ्त में दिए जाएं, वितरण किए जाए, असहाय लोगों को पहुंचाए जाए, तब मालूम पड़ा, जब दाल पर ध्यान गया कि ये दाल नहीं ये तो कालापन ही है सिर्फ। ये आटे में नमक नहीं, नमक में आटा है।

दोस्तों, आप अनुमान लगा सकते हैं कि कितने जुमले आपने सुने कि हम ये कनक रखेंगे, हम ये नहीं खाएंगे, हम ये किसी को नहीं खाने देंगे और ये पिछले सात-आठ साल से और चार साल नियम बदलने के बाद आपकी सबकी नाक के नीचे चल रहा है। कुछ नहीं किया जा रहा है। हम जवाबदेही मांगते हैं, हम तुरंत दंड मांगते हैं। हम तुरंत ये लंबी-लंबी कमेटी नहीं चाहते हैं, लंबी-लंबी प्रक्रियाएं नहीं चाहते हैं, हम परिणाम चाहते हैं और एक सीधा, अब सीएजी से ज्यादा तो कोई एडमिशन हो नहीं सकता। आप लोग सीएजी की बहुत दुहाई देते थे कई बार। तो अब सीएजी का ये एक यूनिट में एक बार तीन साल का ये ब्यौरा है।

Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said- Friends, this is a talk about ‘Daal’, a talk about ‘Daal Mein Kitna Kala Hai Ya Kaale Mein Kitni Daal Hai’, a talk about, ‘Aate Mein Namak Hai, Lekin Yahan Kahani Hai, Namak Mein Aata Hai’.

मैं आपसे बात कर रहा हूँ दाल की, because I believe friends that this scam of pulses and seeds is uncompassionate, unfeeling and an unsympathetic act. It highlights the principle difference between 10 years of far reaching social welfare schemes including Food Security Bill, which, by the way, may I remind you, the Food Security Bill on the one hand Vs the BJP’s idea of food scam and the food security bill by the way was opposed as every ameliorative social welfare major was opposed, by the then BJP.

As I explained to you in Hindi, the scam is far too simple and yet, it was not caught, in fact, it allowed to be going on with encouragement. It relates to the rule before 2018 Vs the rule after 2018. In 2018 and prior the rule was simple. I would give 100 kilos of Chana to millers and asked them to convert it into Daal. For this process of conversion, I would asked them to bid, that go to the lowest charge you will make Mr. Miller, I will pay you, I am the government.

The millers, many of them would bid and the lowest would get the bid L-1. Because, he said, I will convert Chana into Daal at this cost. Along with that there was an important condition; there was a minimum level line below which you could not go in the conversion. So, if this gentleman here got the contract; he, of course, got money from me on his L-1 bid, but, equally this gentleman was told that you have to extract minimum 75 kilos or 80 kilos or whatever 60 kilos or 70 kilos from the Chana, I am giving you. You have minimum limit, these are three conditions.

After 2018, what happened? The most important thing is that the minimum bottom line vanished, no minimum condition. If I give you hundred what you give me will be seen on a bidding basis, but, no minimum is prescribed, very important change.

Second change, the money part was done away with, there was no L-1. It became H-1 because this time this gentleman would say and the second gentleman, the third gentleman, the fourth gentleman that we will convert 100 and give you 60-70-80-90. Now when you said that whoever said- I will convert the maximum, will get the contract. This is the simple change. Now what is the disaster? The scam found by the CAG in your government, under your nose for 3-1/2, 4 years, it is 4,600 crores, how and why? A small group of millers found this new rule to be very easy to exploit. This rule favored big millers. So the millers would simply get together and say that yes, we take it, our highest offer is 60 kilograms for 100 kilograms you give me. The government had to agree.

No sealing was there. In terms of the bottom line sealing, not the top sealing, the bottom line, so people could offer low figures. Anyway, that doesn’t concern you, because the net result of this change of rule estimated by your authorities, a constitutional authority was Rs 4,600 crores, in the period from 2018 to just now, in 2021, which is less than 4 years.

In fact, the irony is that NAFED itself in writing by letter dated, 11^th October, 2021, just few months ago, opposed the rule and said- for God’s sake, please change the rule, back to the original. The estimate finds that even after this objection by NAFED in October, 2021, the further Ghotala for the period after October, 2021 is approximately Rs 875 crores.

Friends, the detail is not important, the important thing is that here is a government, which is cheating on food products, which is allowing crooks to exploit something as basic as Daal. By the way, we have some things to thank Covid for, this scam would might not be unearthed so easily, but, for Covid when there was thought of giving free distribution or low cost distribution of Daal, which is what, has unearthed this scam.

It’s a huge scam. I don’t think, the facts are out before us. I don’t think that this is possibly even a partial part of the iceberg.

We call upon-

Number One, we demand a full disclosure immediately.

Number two and more important, we demand punishment at the highest levels immediately.

Number three, we demand a comprehensive report on how this was allowed.

We condemn this. We call upon public opinion to condemn it, but, above all, this shows the true nature of this government.

As I said between the Food Security of the UPA, which you then opposed Vs the Food scam of your government.

Thank You.

On a question that which company made the profit out of this scam, Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said- There are details, but, that is not a matter of debate because everybody knows, which company bid, which company got it, where is the question of getting into that. The question is of system. If I give you a system, which you can exploit, you will exploit it. It is my job to ensure. I will not say foolproof, but, to ensure a system which is very difficult to break. Here, the funny part is that you had a system, which was relatively better, you changed it into 2018 and you allowed it to flourish.

On a question about CAG report, Dr. Singhvi said- I am dealing today in the press conference only with the NAFED’s issue, post 2018, reflecting Rs 4,600 crore figure by this report. I mean, there must be other…, no CAG report is limited to one issue, but, we are concerned in this press conference with this issue.

मतलब मैं डेट आपको दे दूँगा। relatively recently.

एक प्रश्न के उत्तर में डॉ. अभिषेक मनु सिंघवी ने कहा कि अब आप देखिए कि ये घोटाला नहीं होगा कि अगर मैं आपको 100 किलो दूंगा और आप इसको बदलेंगे सिर्फ 60 किलो की दाल में और कॉन्ट्रैक्ट लें लेंगे, तो 5 बड़े मिलर, न्यूनतम तो कोई लिमिट है नहीं, पूरा खा जाएंगे और आप क्या करेंगे कि आप 100 किलो लेकर चना, 60 तो देंगे आपको, जो आपने कॉन्ट्रैक्ट किया है, बाकी 40 या 30 बनाएंगे, बाहर बेचेंगे मार्केट में।

घोटाला आपकी परिभाषा से थोड़े होता है, सिर्फ पैसे से घोटाला होता है क्या। अगर मैं पैसे के एवज में पैन दूंगा, तो ये घोटाला नहीं है क्या? सीधी बात है कि अगर 100 किलोग्राम में ये मान्यवर जो मेरे साथ बैठे हैं, 60 देते हैं और 20 आगे बेच देते हैं, आपने न्यूनतम लाइन नहीं रखी है, तो इनके ऊपर क्या अंकुश है? इसके लिए जरुरत थोड़े ही है कि पैसे का लेन-देन हो, बल्कि ये तो वर्स है, आप लेन-देन किसका कर रहे हैं- दाल का और दाल में काले का और काले का ज्यादा दाल का कम।

On a question about Prashant Kishor, Dr. Singhvi said- See, the Congress, in the last three days has answered very diverse form of the same question, why should I answer it again? There is no need. Let me say that I reiterate on record whatever we have said. Just yesterday, I delivered, day before yesterday, there was a briefing on this, so why do you want variations on this? I have nothing to add, nothing to subtract. The subjective, adjectives is, of course, you have prerogative to use- happy, sad, super happy, super sad, these are your adjectives.

On another question about Petrol Price hike, Dr Singhvi said- Now, petrol prices you have already got some material, but, I must…

On another question Dr Singhvi said- It is really unfortunate. I mean, this is really-really unfortunate and most of all, when It is coming from high government functionaries. They should not insult your intelligence, my intelligence and the intelligence of the average man of India.

We had given out you figures, forget all the details. Simple figure is a total how much have you gorged and gobbled up Mr. Central Government? The figure is massive, one.

Two, is that figure higher than all the poor states have been scrounging around for, answer is- Yes. So the first figure is approximately 27 to 29 lakh crores. It is nobody’s case that the states have got anything dissembling that.

Number three; you don’t give several states their grants. Some fantastic figure of 87,000 crores was stated by West Bengal. Bihar, your own coalition government has been shouting.

On the one hand, you don’t give that, on the other hand, the poor state is scrounging for a little bit of money by the VAT. You are saying- you close the VAT or reduce the VAT, I will not touch my 27 lakh crores. Is this not insulting your intelligence? You know, you can keep on saying that Assam did not reduce by one rupee, Rajasthan did not reduce by two rupees. That is not relevant. Let’s talk of the larger picture. You will not give a…, even an honest minute fraction of your 27 lakh crores, but, you will blame people, who are scrounging around for pennies. And for an individual state, you know very well, what is the life, blood, the survival…, even those states are reducing by one rupees, some states are reducing by two rupees.

तो आप अपने गिरेबान में झांकने के लिए तैयार नहीं हैं। आप ये मान कर चल रहे है कि आरोप पहले करो, जब गलती आपकी है। आप, उल्टा चोर कोतवाल को डांटने वाली चीज कर रहे हैं। आप ये नहीं बताते देश को कि 27 से 29 लाख करोड़, ये आंकड़ा आपको ध्यान में होना चाहिए। एडमिटिडली मैं 27 मानता हूं, 29 तो छोड़ दीजिए, 27 ले लीजिए। 27 लाख करोड़ रुपए आपने समेटा है। आप ये नहीं बताते हैं कि पूरे स्टेट भारत के जोड़ लें, तो भी उन्होंने उसका एक आंशिक रुप नहीं दिया है और आप कहते हैं कि अमुक स्टेट में वैट कम नहीं हो रहा है और वो आप चुनते हैं कि कांग्रेस शासित स्टेट है। अरे जब स्टेट को अपने ग्रांट पूरे नहीं मिल रहे हैं, कोविड के कारण मारामारी हो रही है, पैसे की कमी है, तो आप उसको पहले कह रहे हैं कि कम करें अपना वैट। मैं अपने 27 लाख करोड़ में से कुछ भी देने वाला नहीं हूं। ये कहाँ का बहकाना, बरगलाना, ये समझना कि या तो जो लोग आपके श्रोता हैं, उनमें कोई अक्ल ही नहीं है या वो घास खाते हैं या जो भी आप बोलेंगे वो मान लेंगे, ये दुर्भाग्य है।

एक अन्य प्रश्न के उत्तर में डॉ. सिंघवी ने कहा कि पश्चिम बंगाल का आंकड़ा 87 हजार करोड़ है, 98 हजार करोड़ है, मुझे 87 हजार करोड़ याद आ रहा है। आप कह रहे हैं महाराष्ट्र का 67 हजार करोड़ है। ये आंकड़ो का मतलब एक तरफ, इनके स्टेट में और क्या तरीका है इनको लाने का। तो ये तो बहुत ही गलत बात है और ये क्रूर है, ये अपमानित करने वाली बात है, ये बरगलाने और मिसलीड करने वाली बात है।

On another question, Dr Singhvi said- I agree, that there are other problems, but, in the larger object, that was the object. In the larger object, we must reach a stage when at one point of time, 95 or 99 per cent are under GST, but, what about the facts? Of course, I am not repeating that, for vigorously till 2014, you opposed GST, that we are not talking about, vigorously, as Chief Minister, as opposition party whatever, but, forget that. Today, till such time as you are not, who is the GST today- Central Government. If you want to bring it down, who is stopping you? It is your job to generate a consensus of GST council that is point number two. Number three, till such time, as you bring it on GST, the arrears of compensatory amount payable, decided already by the GST Council, that you Mr. will get Rs 10, you Mr. will get Rs 5, you Mr. get Rs 20, that has not been paid for years. The figures are known, GST council has decided that state ‘X’ for compensation will get Rs ‘Y’, decided years ago, months ago, please ask, have they paid that? तो आप एक तरफ से वो मुआवजा, the word is ‘Muavja’ actually, Reimbursement, जो आपने सहमति कर ली है, उसको नहीं देते हो और आप हमें सबक सिखाते हो, सीख देते हो, उपदेश देते हो। वो बेचारा स्टेट क्या करेगा, उसको आप ओवरऑल लार्जर ग्रांट्स नहीं देते हो, 98 हजार करोड़ हो या 64 हजार करोड़ हो, उसको वो वाला मुआवजा नहीं देते हो, जो जीएसटी काउंसिल ने निर्णित कर लिया है, उसको सिर्फ ये पूछते हैं कि एक रुपए से कम किया है, 5 रुपए से कम क्यों नहीं किया है और 27 लाख करोड़ में से आप कुछ नहीं करते हैं, मैं तो यहाँ तक घोषणा करने के लिए तैयार हूं कि आप जितने भी सेंट्रल और स्टेट टैक्स हैं, उनको आप 2014 के लेवल पर ले आइए या जो आप बार-बार बोलते हैं सबको ले आइए जीएसटी के अंदर। सिर्फ ये आरोप- प्रत्यारोप राजनीतिक रंग के आधार पर नहीं हो सकता। एक स्टेट को पकड़ लिया, उसका राजनीतिक रंग देख लिया और आरोप कर दिया।

On a question about reducing the VAT in BJP or Non BJP states, Dr. Singhvi said- First of all, that is factually wrong. I can’t talk of individual states, but, there are several states. I have the figures here, which have reduced petrol and diesel, by Rajasthan, included many states have reduced, Maharashtra included. So, I mean, this is complete falsehood.

Number two, the states individually have different choices. In a state like, supposed that figure of 87 or 98 is correct, I am not talking of West Bengal, I am saying any state, how can it be expected to reduce just for Central Government reduces, you are not seeing it contextually.

अरे भाई, आपका पैसा है, आपने कल रिड्यूस करना है, तो इमीजिएटली मैं रिड्यूस थोड़े ही कर सकता हूँ। तो ये बरगलाने की टैक्नीक्स हैं। This is the way of misleading the nation. The macro picture is important, not state wise. The macro picture, I repeat in ending that A, 2014 levels, are you prepared to go back to, Answer- No. B, Rs 27 lakh crores over all, is it many times more than all the states put together, answer- Yes. Three, grants in aid outstanding of state governments total it; four, reimbursement of GST. Just answer these four questions at the macro level.

On another question about propagation of Hindi language, Dr. Singhvi said- See, for the last many years, especially five years, if not seven or eight years, we are seeing new debates cropping up every day. All the debates have different names. According to me, they have only one common name. What is the common name? You can call a debate, ‘Burka’, you can call the debate ‘Halal’, you can call the debate, ‘Religion’, you can call the debate ‘this Language’, but, the language is only one- divisiveness. This is the name of every debate.

I want to respectfully remind Manniya Modi Ji and his government that we used to have language riots in the 1960s. A three language formula was devised at that time. Mercifully, we have not had for almost roughly 50-60 years, these problems. You are here only to deliberately ignite divisiveness. You want divisiveness. You are searching for divisiveness. And you talk of nationalism. For you, there is no better form of nationalism than ensuing divisiveness.

Each day a new debate, which you may call a different name, it is an invented, created, not existent debate. It suits them that I engage in that debate. It suits them that you engage in that debate. The three language formula stood the test of time. Whenever you have imposed Hindi, it never worked. I always give the example of Hindi Channels in our country. The amount they have done for Hindi in ten years, is more than any government can do it in 70 years, because there in a natural spontaneous way, whether I am a Tamilian and he is Kannadi and you are a Telugu and I am Bihari. We go and speak what we like in a Toota-Foota open Bhasha, that is, what is unity.

Here you are saying I will make you conscious that you are not Hindi speaking. I will ram down your throat. I will make sure that you speak only in Hindi. Is this the way to govern a country like India?

Sd/-

Secretary

Communication Deptt,

AICC

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24, AKBAR ROAD, NEW DELHI

COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT

Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, MP and Sr. Spokesperson AICC addressed the media At AICC Hdqrs. today.

Modi ji termed Rahul Gandhi’s demand for a 18% (or less) GST rate as ‘Grand Stupid Thought’ – 3 State Electoral Forced him to Apply the Same !

Doublespeak, Duplicity, Dishonesty of PM Modi & FM Jaitley now out in the Open!

100 days are left for the Lok Sabha elections to take place, and PM Modi has suddenly woken up to the fact that the GST implemented by his Government is poorly implemented.

The Congress party which was the original proponent of the GST, has been hammering the fact from day one, that the GST implemented by the Modi Govt is NOT ‘One Nation, One Tax’ but ‘One Nation Seven Taxes’ with rates as – 0.25%, 3%, 5%, 12%, 18%, 28% and 40% (which was later shelved) and possibly more!  Congress President, Shri Rahul Gandhi has been at the forefront of demanding a SINGLE Tax Rate for GST- not exceeding 18%. Congress party leaders had been demanding the same since 2015, but Mod Government did not listen to the voice of people.

After a deep slumber and when the alarm bells for the BJP have started ringing in the Hindi heartland, PM Modi has suddenly woken up. In a media conclave, yesterday, he has ‘hinted’ that 99% of all items would be taxed at 18% or at less. This is still a ‘HINT’ and NOT a ‘DECISION’.

Since the rollout of GST from July 1 last year, the GST Council has undertaken four rounds of rate rationalization — October 6, November 10, January 18 and July 21. Thanks to Gujarat elections, GST rates on many items reduced from 28% to 18% and Thanks to Gujarat elections, Modi Govt was also forced to heed advice of the Congress party and experts on flaws in implementation of GST.

It is important to note that the back in 2017, before the flawed implementation of a poorly crafted GST, the Chief Economic Adviser to this government had clearly recommended a GST rate of 15-15.5 per cent and demonstrated that it was a revenue neutral rate. But an arrogant Modi Government drunk with power, refused to heed to its own CEA. Infact, a midnight celebration of enforcing taxes on the people of India was held by the Modi Government in Parliament.

Flashback on PM Modi, FM Jaitley & their Govt’s statements on Congress’ rightful remand of ‘One Nation, One Tax’ Rate for GST:-

1. On July 1 2018, on the first anniversary of the flawed implementation of GST. Finance Minister argued that the idea of a SINGLE tax rate GST is a ‘flawed’ one.

He wrote and we quote

“Rahul Gandhi has been advocating a single slab GST for India.  It is a flawed idea.  A single slab GST can function only in those countries where the entire population has a similar and a higher level of paying capacity.  Being fascinated by the Singapore model is understandable but the population profile of a state like Singapore and India is very different.  Singapore can charge 7% GST on food and 7% on luxury goods. Will that model work for India? Since GST is a regressive tax, the poor have to be given a substantial relief.  Thus most food items – agricultural products and the Aam Aadmi used products have to be tax exempt.”

We want to ask Shri Arun Jaitley- What changed in the past 5 months, that now the Modi Govt is forced to adopt the ‘Flawed Idea’ of Single Tax Rate? Was it the absolute drubbing they received from the hands of the electorate in 5 states or was something else?

2. In July, this year, PM Modi exhorted that “Milk, Mercedes can’t be taxed at single GST rate.”

He said “Can we have milk and Mercedes at the same rate? So, when our friends in Congress say that they will have just one GST rate, they are effectively saying they will tax food items and commodities, which are currently at zero or 5% at 18%,”

We want to ask PM Modi, what forced this stupendous reversal & roll back!

3. In July, this year; Union Finance Minister Shri Piyush Goyal stated that the demand for a single rate in Goods and Services Tax (GST) was a ‘ridiculous suggestion’. He also found it amazing when the demand for a single GST rate is raised.

Unfortunately, what Mr Goyal seems to forget is, the same government, which he represents, had at midnight on 30 June 2017 launched GST as ‘One Nation, One Tax, One Market’.

4. On Nov 29 2017, during the Gujarat Election Campaign, PM Modi made an outrageous remark stating that Congress President, Shri Rahul Gandhi’s demand for a Single Tax rate in GST is “Grand Stupid Though’. Acronym Expert, Modiji is however not an ‘Economic Expert’. Yesterday he almost forced to concede to Shri Rahul Gandhi’s demand.

‘Modi-nomics’ is the art of backstabbing people with flawed economic decisions, ruining their livelihood with unwitting announcements, stealing their jobs with economic mismanagement and forcing the small businesses to shut down by unleashing economic anarchy.

A latest survey by All India Manufacturers’ Organization (AIMO) points out that – Traders and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the country have reported steady job loss and declining profits since 2014 and demonetization, the roll-out of GST are among the reasons for the slowdown. The survey reveals that the operational profits of traders across the country have dropped drastically by about 70% since 2014. It underlines that the job loss were reported at the rate of 43% in the trader segment, micro-segments reported job losses of 32%, small segments reported 35% and medium-scale industries reported 24% job losses.

This is PM Modi’s legacy of Economic Mismanagement & Jumlas!

To a question on alliance, Dr. Singhvi said, No, I don’t agree with your analysis.. These are early days. We are in December. There is no question of stitching alliances, closing doors or opening doors. I think that level of discussion and interaction has now started. Certainly you are right in saying that there is an understanding on alliance  of some sort between two parties in UP. That is not to say that we have been or other parties have been part of that process at the moment. That is neither to include nor to exclude. At best you can say this issue is open. I can only say that in the near future and in the coming months and weeks, You will find that though at the moment no initiative, no formal talks, no semi-formal talks have happened. Everybody here realizes the importance of minimizing and preventing vote  division and you have to wait for the story to unfold in January and February. I think this is premature to come to any conclusion yet. I am not saying in the affirmative or in the negative.

To another question, Dr. Singhvi said, the Congress Party is certainly keen and ready to be part of any secular, non-communal, reasonable alliance, understanding, adjustment by whatever name is called, I do not like the words ‘Gathbandhan’, ‘Mahagathbandhan’ or ‘Mini-gathbandhan’. But, Yes it is – provided (a) it is respectable (b) it does not cause harm not only to the other parties but also to Congress Party and (c) it is effective in preventing vote division; that is the mantra of getting together but we are now talking of a process which has not yet started. We have neither been included nor been excluded.

On another question on Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Singhvi said, I did not say ‘keen’ on alliance; I said we are open to give an alliance provided these conditions are met.

To a further question, Dr. Singhvi said, let us not mix up social courtesies with political decision making which is a hard, solid, reason, logic decision making. I do not know his programme, I cannot say whether I will go there or not go there but I can certainly tell you that the Congress Party, Shri Rahul Gandhi and Smt. Sonia Gandhi in particular have maintained the highest levels of social courtesies of all kinds of proper conduct and what to talk of Mayawati Ji  and Akhilesh Yadav Ji and their respective parties. Even those who are antagonistically opposed to us, which these parties are not really in any major sense, even there we have maintained these  social courtesies.

To another question, Dr. Singhvi said, these are matters of detail. You know what                  I mean, you have to allow that process to unfold and let me tell you today it remains the BJP and Shri Modi’s biggest terror that different state-wide adjustments, understanding, alignments will happen. This does not mean that there is some kind of an all India big word which you are using but state-wide, state-level, constituency wise, and region level and that is the biggest terror which the BJP and Shri Modi are reeling under.

On another question, Dr. Singhvi said, I can’t use an unqualified word like ‘support’. It is definitely an improvement. It is definitely taken care of some of our concerns and I cannot hesitate but say that it took a long time for them to realize the correctness just like it took three years to realize the correctness of our GST rate which I have just spoken about. There may still be some teething problem. We will look into details but if it is otherwise Okay, we are prepared for constructive action, I can’t say ‘support’ at the moment but we will look into.

To a further question on Privilege Motion, Dr. Singhvi said, I think there are lots of ifs and buts. There may be lot of ifs and buts there because we do not have the report yet. The last I heard is lot of different viewpoints given in the Committee. That is only on the basis of newspaper reports. I think that matter is important as this, will come to Parliament in a very reasoned long debate when we get the time but the basic point which appears to be staring in the face as to what extent people support something which appears to be discriminatory and to what extent that discrimination is based on religion. These are issues of law, constitutional validity of logic of reason as we have seen to go into it. Certainly there are lots of parties here who might not want to react to discriminatory or region based distinction.

On another question related to the no electoral victory, Dr. Singhvi said- I agree with you that no electoral victory and no electoral defeat, it is a single point agenda or a dual point result. To that point agree. It is not that you win or lose by only point A or only point ‘B’. But, let me tell you that the General Akrosh anger resentment against the Government is based on multiple factors and the cumulative impact of that is important, two of which contributing in a big way for cumulative impacts are certainly GST and Demonetization.

Let me flip your point the other way round. There is no major victory by them except in UP. By which time actually the effects of these two had not really pended it out. Gujarat was a whisker. They were ultimately not able to get majority in Karnataka. Tripura, yes they made gains. Across the country, they have lost many elections after that. Do you think, Goa was a victory? Do you think Manipur was a victory? Gujarat technical victory, technical knock out. Even the BJP does not consider it to be a victory. Karnataka, these three states, so as the effect unfolds, people realize the true effect of these.

On a question related to UP Elections, Dr. Singhvi said- it is not a question of waiting. These are hard issues of logical concentration. They take time. You can rest assure that if it is so to happen, it will happen within a reasonable time frame. Let me not speculate on this. But by the end of the day, if things don’t turn out, we are a national party; we have fought elections on our own. In U.P. we will fight fully and totally but, we would like only because it should not benefit by vote division to the BJP. That is the basic object of trying to lean over backwards in getting the best for the country.

Sd/-

(Vineet Punia)

Secretary

Communication Deptt.

AICC

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“I want to close this by saying the entire Congress party and most of the opposition in this difficult time stand with the jawans and the government. We are not going to get into any other conversation,” said the Congress chief. Read more…

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