NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leaders including party general secretary in charge of Delhi affairs, Ashok Gehlot, and Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ram Babu Sharma along with Members of Parliament, MLAs and Councillors hit the streets on Thursday mobilising financial help for the quake victims in Jammu and Kashmir.

Backing up the campaign were All India Youth Congress workers led by its president, Ashok Tanwar. The programme began from Chandni Chowk in the shape of a padyatra led by Mr. Gehlot. However, the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, who is away campaigning in Bihar, could not participate in the programme. Mr. Gehlot along with Mr. Sharma and Mr. Tanwar went around the congested lanes and by-lanes of Chandni Chowk asking people to donate generously for the noble cause. The Congress MLAs and Councillors also participated in the padyatra urging people to help mobilise funds for the quake hit victims of Jammu and Kashmir. After touring the area for around three hours, the party was able to mobilise around Rs. 5 lakhs from the people and traders.

Stating that the Congress was committed to come to the aid of the quake-hit, Mr. Sharma said the DPCC would present a cheque for Rs. 51 lakhs to the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, on October 26 as part of its contribution to the relief fund. He said such padyatras would be organised in all blocks from October 21 to November 14 and urged party workers to participate in large numbers.

Mr. Sharma said the DPCC would not let down Ms. Gandhi. He said the party would reach out to each and every corner to generate funds.

Appealing to Delhiites to donate generously, Mr. Sharma said the money thus collected would be used for relief and rehabilitation work in the border State that has been devastated by a massive earthquake. Mr. Sharma said he was confident that the people of Delhi as always would come to the aid of their brethren in the Kashmir Valley.

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