The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sonia’s rally postponed in view of serial blasts

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Monday, Sep 15, 2008
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Sonia’s rally postponed in view of serial blasts

Staff Reporter

She was to distribute certificates to illegal colony residents

New date for event yet to be decided
Modi to be part of BJP rally on Sept.19

NEW DELHI: In view of the serial blasts that rocked the Capital on Saturday, the rally of the Congress at Ramlila Maidan on September 17, where party president Sonia Gandhi was to distribute provisional certificates to the residents’ welfare associations of unauthorised colonies, has been postponed.

According to sources in Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, the rally has been postponed due to the blasts. A new date for it is yet to be decided. The event was aimed at winning over the residents’ of unauthorised colonies ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections. The Congress was upbeat about the programme as it wanted to spread the message that it was serious about regularisation of these colonies.

Earlier, in August too, the party had tried to arrange a similar programme on Rajiv Gandhi’s birth anniversary but that had not fructified. Since the BJP had thereafter organised a big rally at Ramlila Maidan on the issue and it was attended among others by both party president Rajnath Singh and its prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani, the Congress leaders in Delhi too wanted to hold a similar rally to show that the party had not suffered an erosion in its traditional support among residents of unauthorised colonies.

However, the show of strength would now have to wait for another day.

On the other hand, following the Delhi blasts, the BJP is now in no mood to lessen the pressure on the Congress Governments in Delhi and the Centre.

It has planned a rally at Ajmal Khan Park on September 19 that would be addressed among others by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Sources in the party said his coming for the rally assumes significance as he is “one of the most popular faces” from the party. Also because he has recently taken on the Centre on the issue of allowing States to draft their own Acts for countering terrorism.

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