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Recollections of a communicator: PMs' Press Conference | The 'national' Press Conference addressed by the Prime Minister on May 24 wanted to focus on the performance of his government during the first year of his second term in office, but as expected it covered all national and
international issues. The questions asked by the media, were directed to elicit
answers on India-Pakistan relations, Naxalism and the economic situation, particularly
the price rise in the country. This was the third general press conference of
Dr. Manmohan Singh, the previous ones being held soon after he finished 100 days
in office and the second one on the Indo-US nuclear deal. During his last press
conference, Dr Manmohan Singh had indicated that he would like to meet the media
at regular intervals, but that has never happened. The only Prime Minister to
regularly hold press conferences was Jawaharlal Nehru. As a young officer in the
Press Information Bureau, I used to be on 'duty' at the meets. Since then, I have
had the advantage being on duty at Prime Minister's press conferences in different
capacities, including conducting them. One learnt a great deal listening to Nehru
at the press conference. He used to take great pains to explain the national and
international policies of the Government of India. I recall, he would speak at
length on the policy of non-alignment, planned development, the Kashmir issue,
and international events like the Suez Crisis and the Soviet invasion of Hungary.
Nehru would conduct the press conference himself and would allow supplementaries
from journalists. Occasionally, he would get provoked and burst out with remarks
like 'fantastic nonsense'. Pressmen would wait for such moments. During those
days, there were no television cameras. The Bell and Howell cameras of the Films
Division and international news agencies like Visnews and the Associated Press
made a lot of sound. There were hardly a dozen or so still photographers. Many
years later, I had the opportunity of meeting N.K. Sheshan, one of the two personal
assistants of Jawaharlal Nehru. He told me that there was hardly any 'preparation'
for the press conference in the Prime Minister's Office. His successor, Lal Bahadur
Shastri, did not hold a press conference. Indira Gandhi revived the practice.
She, I was told by her Information Advisor, H.Y. Sharada Prasad, prepared herself
meticulously before meeting the press. Detailed notes were prepared on likely
questions that might come up. She would also read prepared statements at the press
conference before questions were put to her. Morarji Desai, her successor, met
the press soon after assuming office. My recollection is that the occasion turned
out to be a debating session with the press, with the first few questions focused
on urine therapy. Prime Minister Charan Singh never faced a formal press conference.
During her second term as Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi continued to address press
conferences. Many of those focused on events like the Non-Aligned Summit and the
Commonwealth Heads of Government meet. The press conferences of Rajiv Gandhi used
to be lively and informative. They were structured: domestic issues, party matters
and foreign affairs. He would keep some quotations ready for the occasion. Sharada
Prasad used to allow one supplementary to a question. But what stands out in my
memory was the press conference in which Rajiv Gandhi's answer to a question resulted
in the resignation of India's then Foreign Secretary, A. P. Venkateshwaran. Asked
about the dates of his visit to Pakistan to attend the SAARC by the Jung correspondent.
Rajiv Gandhi responded by stating that he had not decided about the visit, to
which the Pakistani correspondent replied that the Indian Foreign Secretary had
indicated that such a visit was about to take place. Rajiv Gandhi replied, `You
can ask the question to the new Foreign Secretary.' The press conference ended
abruptly, and a little later A.P. Venkateshwaran told me that he had submitted
his resignation. When Vishwanath Pratap Singh became the Prime Minister, the Vigyan
Bhavan was under repair, and he met the press at the Siri Fort. I recall he used
to be briefed by senior officers in the Prime Minister's Office about information
on likely questions. The second press conference of V.P. Singh was a controversial
one, as the national front government was on the brink, following the exit of
Devi Lal and the acceptance by the Government of Mandal Commission recommendations.
Only the Cabinet Secretary, the Foreign Secretary and the Home Secretary attended
the Prime Minister's press conferences those days. I recall there was a great
deal of discussion when then Information Minister P. Upendra wanted to be seated
on the dais. The media too has changed. Today the audio-visual media is dominating
the scene. The media advisor has to ensure that as many correspondents are able
to ask questions, including news agencies, the national and regional newspapers,
besides the foreign newspapers and audio-visual media. A complex task indeed.
I had superannuated before P.V. Narasimha Rao agreed to address a press conference.
Deve Gowda and Inder Gujral were in office for too short periods. As far as Atal
Behari Vajpayee was concerned, his interactions with the media were always lively,
but his failing health prevented him from addressing press conferences. What one
remembers are his long pauses before he answered a question, and many of the answers
were interpreted differently. Dr. Manmohan Singh gives the impression that he
is willing to share information with the media. One hopes that Prime Minister's
Press Conferences are held more often and not restricted to being annual events.
Former Principal Information Officer, Government of India. |
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