The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sheila, Ram Babu trade charges again

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 10, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Sheila, Ram Babu trade charges again

Staff Reporter

Differences come to the fore at party's meeting Barring the fact that both Ms Dikshit and Mr Sharma demanded full Statehood for Delhi and the meeting resolved to take up the matter with the Centre, there were differences between the two senior Congress leaders on almost all issues.

NEW DELHI: : Simmering differences between the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, and the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president, Ram Babu Sharma, came to the fore once again on Monday during a meeting of the party's Election Manifesto Implementation Committee at the DPCC office as they tried to run each other down before the Congress general secretary, Ashok Gehlot, and another senior Congress leader, Vayalar Ravi.

Barring the fact that both Ms Dikshit and Mr Sharma demanded full Statehood for Delhi and the meeting resolved to take up the matter with the Centre in right earnest, there were differences between the two senior Congress leaders on almost all issues.

The DPCC president used the opportunity to demand regularisation of all unauthorised colonies and seek land ownership right for people allotted plots under the Indira Gandhi Awas Yojana under the 20-point programme of the government. He also said that since the case pertaining to declaring all colonies having over 70 per cent industrial concentration as industrial areas was now pending before a court, the Government should find a solution which is to the benefit of the unit owners.

The Delhi Congress chief also used the opportunity to charge at the Sheila Dikshit Government for its alleged failure on the water and power front. The problems being caused to the people, he cautioned, have harmed the party. He also criticised the trifurcation of Municipal Corporation of Delhi being proposed by Ms Dikshit and demanded that MCD remain the way it is.

Charging back at Mr Sharma, the Chief Minister said it was the failure of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to deliver the goods and fulfil the aspirations of the people that was to be blamed for the present situation. Advocating the need for dividing the massive Corporation, she said it would improve its efficiency and reduce corruption.

Election manifesto

Following the meeting, Mr Gehlot gave the outline of the discussions and said the performance of the Delhi Government vis-à-vis the promises made in the election manifesto were discussed at length. While considering the targets set in each field, it was decided that efforts would be made to improve various civic amenities and water and power supply to keep the word given to the electorate.

Mr Ravi later said about 16 points pertaining to implementation of party manifesto were discussed during the meeting. Stating that there was consensus on the issue of full Statehood to Delhi he said it was decided that the matter should be taken up with the Government of India.

Noting that the atmosphere was "very cordial'', he said the meeting primarily discussed the issue of water and electricity supply and it was suggested that those who use more power should pay more. As for water, it was pointed out that about 52 per cent of all available water was getting wasted and so efforts should be made to check this. Stating that on the issue of MCD a consensus is yet to emerge, Mr Ravi said it was decided that the members would meet again to discuss and sort out the pending issues.

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