The Hindu : New Delhi News : Cheers and applause for Ajay Maken

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 30, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Cheers and applause for Ajay Maken

Sujay Mehdudia

Sheila loyalists stay away from the rally

NEW DELHI: For Union Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken it was a day he would remember as he cornered most of the cheers and applause at the rally organised by the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee at Talkatora Stadium here. With Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit away in Russia, her Council of Ministers and loyalist MLAs stayed away from the rally.

Apart from Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy, it was Mr. Maken who was the star of the show. As soon as Mr. Maken and Mr. Reddy made their entry into the stadium, the crowd broke into a loud applause.

Mr. Maken talked about the welfare of the poor including hawkers and vendors and held out promises that things would be sorted out during the one-year moratorium period for the benefit of all sections of society. "Delhi is not for only the rich and the elite. The poor will get an equal share in its development and consideration during the planning process. No city can progress without addressing the concerns of the poor,'' he said.

Mr. Maken did not forget to shower praise on the veterans of Delhi politics including former Union Minister Jagdish Tytler and Outer Delhi MP Sajjan Kumar.

Interestingly, except for Mr. Reddy, no other leader made a mention of the Chief Minister's name. Ms. Dikshit was one of the invitees to the rally but had to leave for Moscow on Monday morning to attend a function. In her absence, not a single Minister from her Cabinet took part in the rally despite being invited.

"We were given instructions not to attend the rally. This is the reason why we have decided to stay away,'' said a loyalist MLA.

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