Eminent jurist noted political commentator and Rajya Sabha MP from West Bengal Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi is one of the most well known faces of Indian National Congress in India. Owing to his impeccable oratory skills, he has been the public face of congress representing India’s grand old party in TV debates and press briefings. While his identity as the national spokesperson of congress is well know, not many know that Singhvi at 37 had become the youngest additional solicitor general of India in 1997.
Ten News Editor Ashish Kedia caught up with Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi at his office to discuss significant issues of contemporary India. In one of his first exclusive interviews after being re-elected to Rajyasabha Dr. AM Singhvi attacked Modi and BJP government on their style of working and also talked about congress road map for 2019 elections.
Here are the excerpts of the interview:
Ten News : Despite being a Congress candidate, TMC legislators also voted for your re-election to Rajya Sabha? So how do you see such pre-poll being forged in run-up to 2019 elections? Do you think that regional parties will be able to set-aside their ground differences to portray a united front for 2019 elections?
Dr. Singhvi :I respect the sentiments of different state parties who are fighting for space in any state be it West Bengal, Bihar or Jharkhand. It is very understandable and must be respected. However it must be radically differentiated with the need of the hour at national level to come together. If there is one thing that has caused great fear in the hearts and minds of the BJP, it is the clear progress towards a consolidation of anti-BJP forces. It is not necessary to give it a name or call it this front or that front but this consolidation is occurring because of the clear climate of fear oppression, mis-governance by the ruling party and its government. A clear approach where there is no attempt to take people along with you, hence if a consolidated opposition has to become a reality, this kind of coordination on the floor of Rajyasabha, in parliament, in voting pattern is of national importance. I find no contradiction in it; I find it an exaggeration to suggest that you cannot have differences at state level yet coordinate to form a united opposition.
There is an unprecedented act of passing resolution for impeachment of CJI by opposition MP’s is happening. You are being said to be one of the RS MP’s who haven’t signed the petition. So what’s your view on this whole thing?
On the onset I must make it clear that this is a very sad day for all of us. I had given my concerns in written as to why we should not do it but as a loyal and obedient soldier of the party, I was actually the last person who signed it on late Sunday evening. There are certain charges which are very serious in nature and there is a need to have a look at them. It gives no one a pleasure to see present state of judiciary. There is a constitutional right to bring such motion to parliament if number of MP’s feel in such way and it is not right to vilify or question them.
I don’t think that any proof need to be furnished at this position. This step will come later. Our founding fathers have made this provision because they felt a need for it and rightly so. Also beyond five charges there is also a feeling of mistrust which must be addressed.
What are your views on amendments in POSCO act as cleared by Central cabinet yesterday?
Kathua is so disgusting that it is very difficult to talk about. It is a barbarism of unimaginable proportion. Secondly there have been some fringe group defending the accused which is even more shameful. The climate in the country has changed.
India is over legislated and under enforced country. Passing laws is just a way to show that we are doing something. There is no point in passing a law while simultaneously allowing certain organizations to oppose the chargesheet filed in the court.
I think what is required is solid policing, no interference, use of the tools of the evidence act and a feeling that a victim of every religion will be dealt similarly.
How do you rate performance of PM Modi? What do you say has been his biggest achievement and failure?
There is no achievement that I can think of. However talking of his biggest three failures have been, job, job and jobs. Indeed there are many more in which his government has failed drastically.
Equally serious failure is the poor state of agriculture trade in country. Our agriculture rate is down to one to 2%. His third failure is this climate of mistrust. Each of us are looking over our shoulders and the situation is very sad.
From a liberal, secular democracy we have become intolerant, religious mobocracy. It is an India that is of no one’s dreams. It is because of this reason that PM has achieved the impossible; he has achieved a progressive consolidation of all anti-BJP forces.
On Social Media there is lot of talks of Congress 2.0. The antics like recent Rahul Gandhi’s midnight march were pretty unheard of from Congress uptill very recent? So do you think congress has re-invented itself?
It is not merely about the words but we need to look at facts. Rahul Gandhi may not be as good a Jumlebaaj and he has willingness to subject himself to a set of question. PM doesn’t communicate to journalists, doesn’t allows questions. PM believes in “alaap” and not “Vaartalaap”, his idea of speaking is limited to one way communication. PM has only allowed certain set of interviews with very-very sympathetic journalists. I say so because they are very hesitant to ask tough questions. People are now appreciating concise, short and content based answers of Rahul Gandhi and are able to see across Prime Ministers flowery oratory skills.
What do you see would be the approach of Congress for 2019 elections? And what according to you would be most important factor upon which 2019 battle would be fought?
There is no doubt that 2019 election will be fought on a consolidation of anti-BJP forces. Today what we may call anti-BJP is very wide. A large sections of NDA is more anti-BJP than possibly UPA or other traditional forces. PM Modi’s dictatorial arrogance and that of many workers bottom onwards, the amount of arrogance that we have seen in last 3-4 years has united all anti-BJP forces.
Secondly there is a need to get united for to prevent vote division. The main issues for 2019 will be jobs and agricultural distress. This climate of fear is also certainly going to play a role. 23,000 richest people of India have become NRI’s in last three years which is a sad fact.
