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CVC =  “Collaborator in Violating the Constitution’!

मोदी एवं सरकार राफेल जांच के डर से CVC जैसी अन्य  संस्थओं के पीछे लुका-छिपी खेल रहें हैं
ऐसी संस्थाओं की खोखली रिपोर्टों की आड़ में  PM व सरकार अपना बचाव करने  प्रयास कर रही है

Scared of the ‘Rafale Truth’ – Modi Govt shamelessly fires bullets from the shoulders of CVC
& CVC is blatantly handing them the cover!

The Narendra Modi Government is, in a cowardly fashion, taking refuge and firing bullets from the shoulders of the CVC to completely damage and undermine the independence of the premier investigation agency – the CBI. It is extremely alarming, shocking and deplorable that the CVC as an institution is willingly allowed itself to be subordinated in this fashion.

The Indian National Congress strongly condemns this tyranny and absolutism whereby credibility of institutions is being bulldozed and institutions like the CVC are being made to surrender in front of a desperate Government, which will go to any extent to prevent independent CBI functioning. We are seeing the beginning of the end of the ‘One Man, One Rule Era’

A man who can’t take criticism or defeat used frivolous grounds to prove his point, misuse his power, distort the findings of CVC and misled the nation.

1. CBI Director should have been granted ‘Natural Justice’

• The principle of Natural Justice demands that the High Powered Committee should have given a hearing to the reinstated CBI Director, Shri Alok Verma, provide him a hearing and then take a decision.

Instead, the Committee removed Shri Alok Verma from the post of CBI Director without even listening to his side of the story. This was done, even as Leader of Opposition, Shri Mallikarjuna Kharge pleaded for the same.

Why was the CBI Director not heard in the Committee before a decision to transfer him was taken?

Since nothing has been either adjudicated or found against Shri Verma, the least required was for him to be heard by the Committee on mere allegations against him.

2. CVC Office was Completely bulldozed in ‘Save Modi Operation’:

It must be remembered that the CVC is neither the appointing authority nor the removing authority for the CBI Director. Hence, CVC report is not gospel truth to form the entire and sole basis for the Committee to remove Shri Verma. The Committee should see the nature of the superficial and subjective charges in the CVC Report.

The CVC report can never be a substitute for a due process of law enquiry. The Committee has overlooked the fact that the CVC report which is the sole basis of the Committee’s conclusions is based upon charges raised by a complainant (Shri Asthana) who is not only himself under CBI investigation but whose petition to stop and quash such investigation has been dismissed today. The entire CVC Report is based on conjectures, premises, speculations and unsubstantiated inferences, as demonstrated below by quoting from the self same CVC Report.

After careful analysis and analysis of the report, the following conclusions emerge:-

• On the charge of accepting a Rs 2 Cr bribe– The CVC itself concedes that “there is however, no direct evidence on the allegation of payment of bribe of Rs 2 Cr to Shri Alok Kumar Verma to Shri Satish Sana..”[Para 13(i).33]

Yet it is astonishing that this is one of the four alleged reasons relied upon for the removal of Shri Alok Verma.

• On the charge of Exclusion of a suspect from being named as accused in an FIR– IRCTC case-: “The allegation on Shri Alok Kumar Verma, Director CBI tried to call off the searches at Patna is not substantiated…” [Para 13(ii).18]

Yet it is astonishing that this is one of the four alleged reasons relied upon for the removal of Shri Alok Verma.

• On the charge of Inordinate delay in finalizing investigation report in bank fraud case against main accused, indicating favouritism towards the main accused. “The only allegation against him and this is merely an allegation that there was delay in finalizing the investigation report by the CBI and that Shri AlokVerma as Director CBI should have ensured its timely completion.” [Para 13(iii).11]

It is absolutely laughable that a CBI Director who otherwise has a fixed tenure can be removed on such specious and trivial charges.

• On the charge of Transfer of SIR related to Joint Director, CBI- “With regard to the allegation of transfer of SIR related to Shri Rajiv Singh then JD, CBI – the CVC has concluded that allegation is not substantiated.” [Para 13(iv).4]
• Not taking action on certain intelligence inputs. “The CVC has concluded that with regard to the allegation of not taking action on certain intelligence inputs, the allegation against shriAlok Kumar Verma stands not substantiated” [Para 13(v).2]
• With regard to the allegation of illegal gratification in the ongoing Preliminary Enquiry against land acquisition in Haryana “the CVC has merely concluded that there is some laxity in the progress of the enquiry”. This by no stretch of imagination can be a ground for the removal of a CBI Director. Moreover, the CVC has concluded “the reasons for such delay and roles of officers concerned cannot be discerned.” This by itself indicates that there is no criminal allegation or proof of wrongdoing against Shri AlokVerma. [Para 13(vi).3]
• With regard to the allegation of smuggling of gold at IGI Airport Delhi, the CVC has concluded “the Commission called for the records of the Customs authorities and Delhi police. As per records none referred to the name of Shri Alok Kumar Verma in this matter.” [Para 13(vii).4]

Moreover, “the CVC conclusively records that on a perusal of the entire records it is clear that no person has named Shri Alok Kumar Verma as responsible for facilitation of this smuggler.” [Para 13(vii).10]

• With regard to helping cattle smugglers the CVC records “there is no truth in this allegation insofar as it related to Shri Verma”. [Para 13(viii).3]
• With regard to the allegation of attempting to induct tainted officers it is noteworthy to point out that the proposal for the induction of both the officers was not acted upon by the DOPT. The allegation is premature at best and wild conjecturing at the worst. It is certainly not a valid ground to disqualify a CBI Director from performing his tasks. [Para 13(ix).5].
• With regard to the allegation of undue interference in CBI cases against ED officials (Lucknow case) the CVC has concluded that “from the above the allegation of pressure to refrain from seizure does not get established” [Para 13(x).A.8]

With regard to the allegation of ED Officer Gurnam Singh (Chandigarh Case) it is noted by the CVC that in fact Director CBI had given permission to go ahead and conduct searches. [Para 13(x).B.3]

Finally on this allegation the CVC Report concluded that “at this point of time the Commission cannot give any final view on this aspect” [Para 13(x).B.7]

3. In light of this vacuous CVC report, it is safe to unambiguously state that there is not a speck of evidence or grounds to remove the CBI Director.

4. In its usual disingenuous and spin doctoring manner another fig leaf behind which Modiji and the Government is trying to hide is that of Justice Patnaik. It is completely forgotten that Justice Patnaik was a broad overall supervisor who has stated that he didn’t participate in the enquiry and that the findings/conclusions of the CVC Report are not his.

5. Despite the above, it is highly regrettable that the Government is repeatedly using the shield of the CVC and indeed its shoulder to fire these politically motivated bullets at the CBI.

The CVC should have seen through this much earlier and not allowed such non conclusions and non-findings to be misused as if they are the conclusive, definitive views of some quasi judicial authority.

6. If mere allegations, surmises, conjectures and the use of subjective adjectives will become the basis for the removal of statutory and Constitutional post holders then the most alarmed persons should be the PM and the President of the ruling party who have constantly maintained that absent adjudication of allegations or strong virtually irrefutable evidence, they would not step down.

Furthermore there is complete lack of equivalence and stark contrast between direct physical and documentary evidence of serious wrongdoing available in the case of Asthana including witnesses, FIRs and direct documentary evidence in contrast to the Verma case. It is significant that the Delhi High Court in a detailed judgment, just a short while ago today, rejected Asthana’s petition to quash the FIR against him and instead directed the CBI to proceed and complete its investigation in his regard.

 We are stunned that the CVC is practicing willful and Nelsonian blindness to such obvious facts.

7. We all believe that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. But the BJP, the PM and the FM believe and act differently. They believe in discriminatory standards to be applied. For them, this vacuous and subjective CVC Report is not “a fishing and roving enquiry” but a case like Rafale, with humongous facts and documents, has been characterized by these 3 eminent persons to be a “fishing and roving enquiry”.

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The post Abhishek Manu Singhvi terms K Chandrasekhar Rao and his family ‘thugs’, asks people to reject Telangana Rashtra Samithi first appeared on Dr Abhishek Singhvi, Abhishek Singhvi, About Abhishek Singhvi.

Dr. Singhvi said we are asking this in the national interest, a very curious situation. The ED’s notice is seeking attachment of over Rs. 21 Crores from a known close connected aide of Mr. VK Singh. I do not think anybody’s aide has the stature, the power, the position, the pelf, the impact to have such large sums of money on his own which the ED in a written notice is seeking attachment of. It is the ED’s notice which points out that 13 shell Companies were owned or managed by or owned by him, his family Members. And the funds received in the Loan accounts of these Companies were diverted in contravention of loan terms agreed with the bank and used by Shri Singh for his own benefit”.

But most significant and the most important pointer is to the tune, sector, the subject, the issue, which gave rise to this fund diversion and ED attachment. The ED says and it is very important “The investigation revealed that the loan funds were taken on the basis of forged documents of supply orders to the Para-military Forces and the Armed Forces which were misappropriated and diverted by Singh for his personal use instead of utilizing it for his business activities provided in terms of loan. Now Mr. SP Singh is accused of this. Our question is very clear that how is it that the ED which is jumping the gun on very small issue and every big issue has not thought it fit to even question the former Army Chief and now a Minister in the Government? No exchange, no information, no questioning, no attempt to investigate. This is an act of extreme curiosity, seriousness and an obvious deliberate omission.

From Chattisgarh comes an equally sorry and sad story and it is backed by independent CAG investigation with a report now on the Floor of the Assembly and these are people who have sworn by, stood by, lived and died for the CAG report. The CAG points out that over Rs. 1000 Crore was spent as unfruitful expenditure on incomplete anicuts (small dams). Anicuts are the vital channels for irrigation for rural areas. They pre-exist, they have to be recharged, reconstructed, restored and rejuvenated. The charge is three fold and is every interesting and I am quoting – Charge No. 1 is of wasteful expenditure of over Rs. 1000, more precise Rs. 1,095.74 Crores. The second serious aspect is that all such anicuts where the irrigation coverage is only about 30% are largely incomplete. Chhatisgarh is a dry, parched, hot State. Irrigation coverage itself is only 30% and anicuts were supposed to be restored and repaired within those 30%. In that 30%, they have found largely incomplete anicuts. The third charge is that none of the issues were anticipated or solved before this project and money was spent. Issues of land dispute land compensation, slow progress of work by the contractors and I quote “Neither resolved these bottlenecks to ensure completion nor assessed the damage to old structures and foundations of the anicuts”.

And the last and the fourth issue is t that of the sample checks proved the hollowness of the claims and the various booklets published by Chhatisgarh and the Central Government. Once,  they made such remarks on Medical Education and other issues but I am just giving you one example and is that of 72 sampled areas for ground water recharge. 47 of the 72 were found not recharged i.e. almost 75+ or 80%. 47 of 72 had no increase in ground water recharge as confirmed by the Central Ground Water Board and 79% of cultivable land was not irrigated due to lack of electric connections.

I thought I just heard Shri Piyush Goel and Shri Dharmendra Pradhan; every day you are told to carry material from them that we have 100% electrification, rather we have excess supply surplus, just yesterday there was all flag cutting ceremonies at International Energy Association. We are told that we are surplus. CAG says that 79% of cultivable land was not irrigated due to lack of electric connections. Either CAG is lying or the two Ministers jointly are totally incorrectly making statement or both are at complete variance which requires a clarification as to where is the surplus electricity going and ignoring their own State Chattisgarh. This is the problem of fact and fiction. Fiction is something this Government is excellent in; facts are when they come to a screeching halt and stand exposed.

On the question that whether the matter regarding Shri VK Singh’s aide can be taken up in the Court, Dr. Singhvi said everything is open to the Court but Court does not have time to look at every micro-management. It can ultimately be seen by the court but the question here is larger – you are self using the word ‘Jail’, you are seeing himself his photographs with former Army Chief, you are seeing ED notice to him. Now is the question as to how many of your Secretaries like SP Singh has such money because of his own influence. You think this Minister’s Secretary has his own influence? Do you think Defence contract is given to this Secretary because of his own influence? Now I am not saying any body is guilty or innocent. I am asking a simple question to myself and of course to the Nation through you – would it require a questioning? Police questions, police makes investigation report. That is an omission. Ultimately Court may ask that question but the Court comes secondly – first question is that you are an ED, are you scared because of a Minister, are you selective, are you opportunistic, are you partial, are you biased, are you imbalanced? That is the question I am asking.

On the question regarding Shri Virbhadra Singh, Dr. Singhvi said let me make one thing clear – everything according to law, fair and square and balanced, We wanted, we are happy with it and we are not even minimum scared. Do not ever for a minute think that ‘Geedar bhabkis’ are going to scare us but we are going to raise again and again before you that do not have double standards, do not have imbalanced standards, do not have one standard for Mr. Hemant Biswa and another for Mr. VK Singh. Do not have one standard for Mr. Biswa Sarma in Assam when you were in the Opposition. BJP made some horrendous allegations against him and now because he is your primo-Uno, therefore, suddenly he is washed with whitewash. Therefore, I think selectivity and bias and partisanship is the issue. You have a fair and square investigation – there will be no problem.

How do you justify newly anointed Punjab Government’s decision to do away with all that was reminiscent of Raj Era, Dr. Singhvi said I do not think that in context, degree, content and quantum, the Punjab Government is doing anything or proposing anything remotely resembling the systematic organized rewriting of history, going on. Systematic organized rewriting of history going on by this Government at several departments especially the HRD where there are department inaccuracies, there are established systems which every State can and always resort to but we are now talking of a concerted predetermined effort by the Central Government through various agencies three things which no State of Punjab is doing or no State is doing it. 1 – re-thinking history (2) renaming history and selectively rewriting history and most importantly (3) distorting history, stating false facts and this is done by starting at appointments at lower levels and starting it with pre notions and see the example. Let us wait for the final outcome, I can assure that no Congress Government has done or played with distortion of history before and none will do now.

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डॉ. अभिषेक मनु सिंघवी ने पत्रकारों को संबोधित करते कहा कि जैसे – जैसे आंकड़े आ रहे हैं, जैसे-जैसे तथ्य प्रकाशित हो रहे हैं उससे साफ जाहिर होता है कि सच्चाई आंकड़ों और तथ्यों में एक तरफ और मोदी जी के भाषणों में – बीजेपी के दावों में जमीन-आसमान का फर्क है, बहुत भारी फर्क है। एक उदाहरण लें- रोजगार का, अभी जिसे quarterly employment survey कहते हैं, तिमाही साईकिल में रोजगार के आंकड़े प्रकाशित होते हैं, उसमें 2-3 चौंकाने वाले आंकड़े आए हैं और एक प्रकार से संख्यात्मक आंकड़े हैं, जो भविष्य के भी संकेतक हैं।

8 मुख्य क्षेत्रों – Manufacturing, Construction, ट्रेड, ट्राँसपोर्ट, एजूकेशन, हेल्थ, हाउसिंग, रेस्तरां एम्पलाईमेंट इत्यादि। यदि इन सबको औसतन लें तो जो पिछले quarter में 77 हजार रोजगारों की संख्या में वृद्धि हुई थी, वो इस बार तुलना में आधी हुई है, लगभग 33 हजार। कुछ क्षेत्रों में सबसे ज्यादा नुकसान हुआ है। उसमें मुख्य रुप से हैं जो Construction का क्षेत्र है, ट्रेड, हाउसिंग, रेस्तरां और एजूकेशन। उसमें जो वृद्धि होनी चाहिए थी – रेट ऑफ ग्रोथ तो दूर absolute terms में आंकड़ें नीचे गिरे हैं। उद्योग में बढ़े हैं, लेकिन औसतन सबमें गिरे हैं, सबसे ज्यादा नुकसान हुआ है वो हाउसिंग और रेस्तरां के क्षेत्रों में। ये सरकारी आंकड़े हैं। IT के क्षेत्र में अच्छे परिणाम दिखे हैं परंतु महिलाओं के रोजगार में फिर गिरावट है। मैं अक्टूबर से दिसंबर तक के quarter की बात कर रहा हूं जहाँ महिलाओं को उपलब्ध रोजगार की संख्या में दुबारा absolute गिरावट है 25000 वर्करस की। अगर आप सभी रोजगार को मिला लें तो जो पिछला quarter था, उसमें लगभग 1.70 लाख रोजगारों की वृद्धि हुई थी, जो इस बार गिरकर सिर्फ 69000 रह गई।

तो ये सबसे महत्वपूर्ण बात ये है कि ये जो आंकड़े हैं, ये औसतन हैं। ये इस बात की तरफ इशारा करते हैं कि नोटबंदी का जो दुष्प्रभाव हुआ है, वो धीरे-धीरे करके सामने आएगा। सरकार के कई मुद्दों के आधार पर जैसे Economic mismanagement, नोटबंदी के आधार पर ही नहीं बल्कि व्यापक रुप से देखा जाए। अब हमें आंशिक रुप से दुष्प्रभाव दिखने शुरु हो गए हैं।

एक और रिपोर्ट आंकड़ों की प्रकाशित हुई है सरकार के द्वारा जैसे सरकार आंकड़े जारी करती है हर 2,3,4 महिनों में, तो जो Q-3 था- Current Account deficit जिसे CAD कहा जाता है, जो महत्वपूर्ण मानक होता है, वो बढ़कर लगभग 8 बिलियन डॉलर हो गया है। पिछले quarter के हिसाब से बढ़कर 7.1 बिलियन से अब 7.9 बिलियन डॉलर हो गया है। जो उससे पहले और भी कम था। इसके साथ-साथ FDI जिसको Net FDI कहते हैं, उसके आंकड़े भी प्रकाशित हुए हैं। ये सब 3rd quarter of 2016-17 के हैं, यानि अक्टूबर से दिसंबर के आंकड़े। Net FDI हुआ है लगभग 9.8 बिलियन यूएस डॉलर। जो पहले quarter से कम है, गिरा है। तो ये एक quarter के लिए एक कहानी बता रहे हैं कि जो दावे किए जाते हैं, जो पीठ थपथपाई जाती है, जो क्लेम किए जाते हैं, वो सत्य नहीं हैं। भगवान ना करें ये बढ़कर चिंतनिय हो जाएं।

एक प्रश्न पर कि OBC के अधिकार के संबंध में नई व्यवस्था किए जाने पर कांग्रेस की क्या राय है, श्री सिंघवी ने कहा कि अभी कोई समस्या है या नहीं ये बाद की बात है। अखबार पढ़ने से कुछ पता नहीं चलता, जब तक औपचारिक प्रस्ताव नहीं आता है। दो चीजें देखनी पड़ती है- बांउडरी क्या है, स्वरुप क्या है, जिसको टर्म ऑफ रेफरेंस कह लीजिए – उसमें इसकी क्या सिर्फ वींडो ड्रेसिंग है? क्योंकि आयोग तो पहले भी रहे हैं। संवैधानिक आयोग की बात कही जा रही है, उसको आप क्या अधिकार क्षेत्र दे रहे हैं, ये देखना पड़ेगा। दूसरा उसको दंड़ करने के, कार्यांवित करने की भी पावर दी जाएगी, सिर्फ सुझाव का अधिकार नहीं होगा। ये मुख्य बिंदु है, जो हमारे सामने आएंगे तब हम टिप्पणी करेंगे। अगर ठोस सुझाव नहीं है तो हम समझेंगे कि ये दिखावट है क्योंकि अलग-अलग मुद्दों पर ऐसे आयोग बनते हैं। सिर्फ एक नया नाम देने से काम नहीं चलेगा।

एक अन्य प्रश्न पर कि सुब्रहमण्यम स्वामी जी ने जो बिल पेश किया है उसमें एक प्रस्ताव दिया है कि गौ-हत्या करने पर मृत्यु दंड का प्रावधान रखा जाए, श्री सिंघवी ने कहा कि कोई भी सदस्य कोई भी प्रस्ताव दे सकता है। ये हरियाणा से भी प्रस्ताव आया था। शायद आपने देखा नहीं। सब चीजों में एक संतुलन देखा जाता है। प्रस्ताव में सर्वसम्मति होना, बिल पारित होना भारत के सबसे बड़े संसद के स्तर पर, दो अलग-अलग चीजें होती है। प्रस्ताव कोई भी दे सकता है, लेकिन उसके उपर कुछ भी अभी कहना सही नहीं है।

एक अन्य प्रश्न पर कि शिवसेना सांसद ने एयरइंडिया स्टॉफ से जो दुर्वव्यवहार किया है उस पर आप क्या कहेंगे, श्री सिंघवी ने कहा कि इसमें कोई भी ऐसा व्यक्ति नहीं होगा, किसी भी वर्ग में जो ऐसे किसी चीज का परोक्ष या सीधे रुप से समर्थन करेगा। इसमें दो-3 चीजें जरुरी है और हमें आशा और विश्वास है कि तुरंत होंगी।

पहला- कानून का गति के साथ काम करना, जो पीड़ित हैं, उनका हक है कि कानून उसका साथ दे। उस कानून का परिणाम तुरंत हों और एक अल्प समय में न्याय हो। उसको आप FIR कह लीजिए या चार्जशीट कह लीजिए।

दूसरा – शिवसेना ने कहा कि वो इस विषय में आंतरिक रुप से जांच कर रहे हैं और जल्द से जल्द पार्टी के स्तर पर जो उन्हें एक्शन लेना है वो इसके बारे में निर्णय करें।

तीसरा- अंदर से एक व्यक्ति में एक चेतना जागनी चाहिए, उसको आप पश्चताप कह लीजिए या माफी की चेष्टा कह लीजिए। क्योंकि हम खुद को सांसद कहते हैं उसके लिए अति आवश्यक है कि हम शर्म से अपना माथा नहीं झुकाएं। जहाँ तक एयरलाइंस का सवाल है – ये उनके अधिकार क्षेत्र की बात है और उनके और एमपी के बीच की बात है। जाहिर है कि अगर मैं किसी भी एयरलाइंस के स्टाफ से ऐसा व्यवहार करुंगा और एयरलाइंस कोई ऐसी नीति बनाती है, तो मुश्किल होगा उस नीति का विरोध करना।

The post Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Spokesperson AICC Addressed the Media- In Hindi first appeared on Dr Abhishek Singhvi, Abhishek Singhvi, About Abhishek Singhvi.

Shri Abhishek Manu Singhvi addressed the media today.

 Shri Abhishek Manu Singhvi said we remember with deep affection and nostalgia the youthful Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi whose death anniversary falls today. He has been and is and will continue for all times to be a symbol of youthful energy and zest, a symbol of path breaking technology being imbibed and absorbed in the day to day life of Indians whether it is telecom or whether it is computers and an approach which heralded a generation of transparency. A brave Prime Minister who laid down his life in the cause of the nation, we respectfully remember him and place on record our ‘Sharadhanjalee’.

 We wish the new government and the new Prime Minister-designate all the best. We believe that a genuine real good is done if words and promises are translated into action, then it is the real good of India that we celebrate and that is why we place on record our good wishes. We are also happy to note as a party and as a party in government in the previous government that the Prime Minister-designate in his address has recognized that some or more than some good deeds, good policies, good schemes, good decisions, good initiatives have been taken by the previous government or by previous governments. It is important that good governance of the country has continuity, a continuity which transcends political differences and political parties and therefore, we take note of the statement in his speech yesterday.    We also hope and trust and we want to make it clear and place on record that in the light of that spirit, in the light of that sentiment which I have just mentioned, several path breaking good schemes and initiatives by the UPA-I and II, several inclusive or right based schemes and I am not naming them, will be neither close or in any manner significantly in any manner curtailed.

 We, of course, hope and must insist that such good words must be followed by solid good deeds by measurable objective standards and certainly we and the nation are there and will be there each day of our opposition years to seek accountability constructively and to seek a report card constructively.

 In conclusion, as I said, we will again place on record our deep appreciation for all those over ten crore who stood by the Congress and we will strive and work towards improvement at every stage.

 On the question whether the Congress party welcomes the decision of Mr. Modi to invite all heads of SAARC countries, Shri Singhvi said there is no question of not welcoming it.  These are the Prime Minister’s prerogatives and certainly we are not here to interfere with the prerogatives of the Prime Minister. It is a part of governance as I said it is early days yet we wish well for something good happens. We will be very happy.

 Shri Singhvi also said that elections are over, if I am asking them to be constructive, certainly I have taken the first step and there is no question. It is the Prime Ministerial prerogative if to call, when to call, how to call not only the Heads of State of world but any other Member of the world. It is part of governance mechanism and unless and until we find some inherent negativity in anything, we are certainly there to look upon on it constructively and to support such initiative provided good of India suits.

 To a question as to what will be role of Smt. Sonia Gandhi and  Shri Rahul Gandhi, Shri Singhvi said rest assured as and when any information is available that will be shared with the media but today the Congress party is ready to play a constructive role of the opposition.

 On the question of the reaction of the Congress party on the report that Mr. Arwind Kejriwal has been sent to Jail for two days by then Hon’ble Supreme Court in the defamation case filed by Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Shri Singhvi said I have nothing to say on a judicial legal process. It is between Mr. Gadkari, Mr. Kejriwal and the courts. The Congress party has no occasion to comment but let me make one thing absolutely clear as far as Delhi is concerned that our stand has been the same consistent, in fact, we are the only party which has maintained a consistent stand. I draw your attention to a fact that few weeks before the present elections, the AAP has specifically and formally on an affidavit in the Supreme Court proceedings, not once but repeatedly on several dates argued that there should be instant dissolution and election. At that time in the Apex Court, the BJP argued the opposite. Till yesterday we had a complete reversal of the roles with the AAP wanting a deferment and the BJP wanting polls. Today I believe there is third volte face in the morning where apparently Mr. Kejriwal is suggesting that there should be polls. It is very difficult to rely upon such summersaults. In any case our stand remains the same that we will not support the AAP. We believe that the AAP has deserted Delhi during a critical time. We believe that they have affected gravely good governance and they have dashed the hopes and aspirations of the people of Delhi. Therefore, our stand is the only consistent stand.

 To another question on the CPP meeting in relation to the CWC meet, Shri Singhvi said rest assured that where the CWC has met, the CPP will also meet. You rest assured that you will come to know of the date and you rest assured that there will be all the relevant persons entitled and necessary to do relevant roles in the due discharge of our role as an opposition will be done.

 On the question of the further reaction of the Congress party that during the last week there have many transfers and posting in the Finance Ministry, Shri Singhvi said I do not think that party should comment on it. I would like to draw your attention to a formal statement issued by the Finance Ministry where it has been made clear that every year during this part of the year, there have been transfers.  It is a routine process.

 To another question on the PMO’s twitter handle which has been consigned to the Archive which has been described as unlawful by the BJP, Shri Singhvi said let me make it clear firstly that as a party we have a limited role to comment on this – both the PMO and Twitter India are taking care of it. They have both issued statements and there is nothing for me to add or subtract.  Secondly, I would say and remind you that this is the first time post twitter age that a transition has occurred from an outgoing to incoming Prime Minister. It appears to be a storm in the tea cup for the simple reason that all the actions show that contrary to the allegation all that has been nationalized as archival state property, there is no question of private property. The rest is a matter of practice and precedent which has to start with this time because this is the first time that outgoing PM in twitter era is handing over to an incoming PM but the Twitter India and the PMO are fully competent to deal with this question on the subject.

 To another question on the statement of Shri Mohan Prakash in connection with the recently concluded to the elections related to the defeat of the Congress party, Shri Singhvi said I have no knowledge of such a statement. I don’t speculate, please show me the statement.

 To another question on the statement of Shri Shanker Singh Vaghela demanding from Mr. Modi in Gujarat that since the BJP has got the absolute majority, they should build the Ram Mandir, Shri Singhvi said that you know very well that the stand of the Congress Party on Ram Mandir is there and that stand cannot change. There is a resolution of CWC on the subject and there is no shift from our stand. Secondly, I don’t have any knowledge of Shri Vaghela’s statement because every TV channel is showing the same as per their suitability. As per our information on the subject, Mr. Vaghela was speaking in some other context.

 Sd/-

 eads of Head      (Tom Vadakkan)

 Secretary

 Communication Deptt.

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