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
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| 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. |
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