The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sheila, Ministers in search of cooler sojourn

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 16, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Sheila, Ministers in search of cooler sojourn

Staff Reporter

CM along with other officials will leave for London on June 17 "Everyone is finding excuses to run away from the summer heat. Surprisingly, the Council of Ministers deem it fit to leave it to the people to fend for themselves while they are away holidaying''

NEW DELHI: With the mercury shooting up, it is not only the residents of the Capital who are heading for the hills in search of cooler climes. Even members of the Sheila Dikshit Cabinet are following suit. While some of the ministers are heading abroad, others are content exploring the hills in their own country.

Taking the lead will be the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, who after spending four days in Shimla will head for London on June 17. The occasion is showcasing of Delhi through Dilli Haat at Trafalgar Square on June 18 and 19. Ms. Dikshit will lead a delegation comprising Education and Tourism Minister, Arvinder Singh Lovely, Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) Managing Director, Ramesh Negi, and host of other officials from the Tourism Department. In fact, Mr. Lovely is already in London along with his family, combining his private holiday with the business trip. He left Delhi on June 11.

Ms. Dikshit will be escorted by the Secretary (Education), Reena Ray, and her Special Secretary, S. S. Yadav. This past week, the Chief Minister attended the conference of Law Ministers and Officers in Shimla and had an extended vacation along with some members of her family. Some other Ministers are also waiting for the departure of the Chief Minister to take a few days off from their hectic schedule.

"Everyone is finding excuses to run away from the summer heat. Surprisingly, the Council of Ministers deem it fit to leave it to the people to fend for themselves while they are away holidaying,'' remarks a senior official.

Personal trip

By the end of this week, half of the Delhi Cabinet, including the Chief Minister will be out of the Capital. The Finance Minister, A.K. Walia, is scheduled to leave for the Kashmir Valley on June 17 for a two-day conference being organised by the Ministry for Poverty Alleviation. On the other hand, Transport Minister, Haroon Yusuf, is leaving on a personal trip to London on Thursday night along with his family. He would be returning to the Capital only at the end of next week along with Mr. Lovely. Not to be left behind,

The Chief Secretary, S. Regunathan, along with the Secretary to Chief Minister, Renu Sharma, are heading for New York to receive an award for the Bhagidari scheme. It is understood that the Chief Minister was keen on going to New York to receive the award but the External Affairs Ministry turned down the request on the plea that it did not fit her protocol.

The Member of Parliament from New Delhi, Ajay Maken, has gone to Mussoorie along with his family. "It is the right time to take a break from the rigorous routine and head for the hills. It would help us to re-energise ourselves and come back rejuvenated to serve the people of the constituency,'' said the Badarpur MLA, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, who himself is heading for Shimla this weekend.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi

News Update

Stories in this Section