The two senior leaders were supposed to reach the Congress meet on a chopper but had to finally make the trip by road
The two senior leaders were supposed to reach the Congress meet on a chopper but had to finally make the trip by road
On the first day of the party's 83rd Plenary on Sunday, Congress workers would have been hoping to see their senior leaders in full-flight.
Gandhi and Gandhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh looks on as
Congress President Sonia Gandhi receives a statue of Mahatma Gandhi
from a freedom fighter at the plenary. PIC/Imtiyaz Khan
That it couldn't fully materialise is not a reflection on the organisers, but is a sign that the infamous Delhi winter fog spares no one. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi were forced to travel by road to Burari, the venue for the meet. They were initially supposed to take a chopper.
Security officials realised that they have a task on their hands on Sunday morning when the scheduled chopper ride was cancelled due to fog and Manmohan and Sonia had to be taken by road at the eleventh hour throwing traffic arrangements haywire.
When probed, a senior Delhi police officer confirmed that the leaders couldn't travel by air as the visibility was poor due to fog in the morning. Sources in Delhi police said that the entire security apparatus of Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi had to be re-arranged at the eleventh hour and they were taken to the venue by road.
The party's 83rd Plenary session is on at Burari and senior politicians of the Congress including Sonia Gandhi, Digvijay Singh and Rahul Gandhi addressed the gathering of about 15,000 persons on Sunday.
Traffic too suffered because of the VVIP route arrangements which were put in place by local police and numerous commuters complained of snarls even on a Sunday. "Even local police had to adjust their preparations at the last minute as they were under the impression that the two leaders would take the aerial route," a senior Delhi police officer stated.
As the meet continues today, Delhi police is trying to ensure that it has all fronts covered and more steps would be taken to ensure smooth flow of traffic.
"Though it is a regular practice that cops keep all their options open, change of plans at such notice can result in mismanagement," a police official said.u00a0
| Austerity anyone? |
| Congress President Sonia Gandhi spoke at length about the corruption within the ranks and the need for austerity. But at least on Sunday the indications were that party leaders were not too keen to give up on their little comforts. The party has spent a huge amount of money for erecting 500 plus tents in Burari to allow leaders and delegates stay at the location.
But most of these tents lie vacant as these delegates preferred to stay either in hotels, state bhawans or at the official bungalows of their elected representatives.
A hotel owner from Karol Bagh informed MiD DAY that most of the hotels in the area and neighbouring Paharganj had been booked by Congress leaders and their associates, who have come to attend the meeting.
However, a few members of Congress Seva Dal chose to stay in the tents. "It is true that no delegates have been staying here, but a few hundred Congress Seva Dal members are staying," said Jitender Kochhar, Delhi Congress spokesperson.
"Simplicity, restraint and austerity must be our chosen way. We cannot make this a law. But in a country where poverty is still widespread, let us at least have the moral sensibility to avoid vulgar displays of wealth and waste," Sonia Gandhi said in her presidential address. |
| NEVER A DULL MOMENT |
| Mum's the word
Apart from being a popular leader, Rahul Gandhi is also a devoted son. The Congress scion was seen making his way to his mother on the dais, whispering something in her ear and then leaving the podium at around 1pm with her consent. He returned at around 3.45pm, a few minutes before his speech.
Cheers please!
In a part of her speech, Sonia Gandhi said: "We have ample evidence that all discretionary powers, particularly in land allocation breed corruption. I would like all Congress chief ministers and ministers at both the Centre and states, to set an example by reviewing and relinquishing such powers." Unlike her earlier comments, this one didn't draw applause from the audience. In jest, Sonia was seen whispering to other leaders on stage: "No one clapped for this one."
Borrowed security
Metal detectors at the meet were brought from police stations from all over the Capital. There were dozens of metal detectors with names of police stations like Defence Colony, Sarojini Nagar and Maliviya Nagar inscribed on them. Many wondered why northwest district police had to borrow so many of these devices and why they were in such short supply in the neighbourhood.
Watch me!
Actress Nagma was seen wandering around the venue, perhaps in search of publicity. In fact, there was a brief scuffle which broke out while she was giving an interview to a news channel. She kept on roaming around gate number 7 - the media entrance - for about three hours.
Shoot at sight
Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmad was spotted shooting pictures and videos from the dais where the all senior politicians along with Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh were sitting.
When a MiD DAY reporter asked him about it he said: "I am capturing images of the crowd from the stage with my 5 megapixel cell phone camera." |
