The Hindu : New Delhi News : DPCC felicitates Ajay Maken

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Saturday, Feb 11, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

DPCC felicitates Ajay Maken

Staff Reporter

Time to give slum dwellers a stable future, says Maken

RECOGNITION OF EFFORTS: Newly-appointed Union Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken at the felicitation function by Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, in New Delhi on Friday. — Photo: Sandeep Saxena

NEW DELHI: Stating that it was imperative to regularise all unauthorised colonies in Delhi and build low-cost housing for residents of slum clusters, the newly-appointed Union Minister of State for Urban Development, Ajay Maken, on Friday said these sections had always supported the Congress party and now that it was in power at the Centre, in Delhi, and in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi it was time to give them a stable future.

Speaking at a felicitation function organised by the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) here on his appointment to the Union Council of Ministers, Mr. Maken said his elevation was recognition of the contribution of the Delhi Congress towards protecting the interests of the cross sections of the society.

Mr. Maken said the very fact that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had issued directions to set up a high-power committee to deal with the issue of demolitions and study the building by-laws was an indication of the Union Government's keenness to resolve this contentious issue.

He was also all praise for Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy for showing keen interest in resolving the problems faced by the people of Delhi. "I am fortunate to work with such a senior and respected Minister and look forward to learning a lot from him," he added.

The All-India Congress Committee general secretary in charge of Delhi affairs, Ashok Gehlot, said that Mr. Maken's elevation showed Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's faith in young leadership.

Stating that Ms. Gandhi was very concerned about the present demolition drive in the Capital and wanted a satisfactory solution to the problem, Mr. Gehlot said that Mr. Maken would fit the bill perfectly to help out lakhs of residents of the Capital.

He said this appointment was a great honour for the party leadership in Delhi as Urban Development was a crucial portfolio and Mr. Maken would be able to tackle the problems being faced by the people in a level-handed and objective manner.

DPCC president Ram Babu Sharma said the appointment of Mr. Maken to the Union Council of Ministers was a reflection of the high esteem in which the Congress leadership viewed the contribution of the local unit of the party.

Also present at the function were Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, her Ministers Arvinder Singh Lovely, Haroon Yusuf, former Union Minister Jagdish Tytler, Sajjan Kumar, Krishna Tirath and Mayor Satbir Singh.

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