Congress Ministers cautioned

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI, AUG. 17. ``There have been many complaints about Delhi Ministers not behaving properly and ignoring the work and interests of party leaders and workers. This will no longer be tolerated and if the Ministers do not check themselves, they could even be shown the door,'' declared the AICC(I) general secretary, Mr. Kamal Nath, after listening to speakers at a daylong convention of block and district presidents of Delhi Congress(I).

The indifferent attitude and the unruly behaviour of members of the Sheila Dikshit Government came under severe attack at the Convention, held to chalk out a strategy for the MCD polls. ``It is probably for the first time in recent years that under your leadership the Delhi Congress(I) is presenting a united front and the BJP is totally divided. For this credit must go to the Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dikshit, and the DPCC(I) president, Mr. Subhash Chopra,'' the East Delhi District president, Mr. Arvinder Singh Lovely, told Mr. Nath. The convention, held under leadership of Mr. Chopra, was addressed by Ms.Dikshit.

Speaker after speaker pointed out about the lack of cooperation on the part of Ministers and their continued neglect of party leaders and workers whenever they were approached. Mr. Nath shot back immediately: ``If Ministers do not listen to grassroots workers and ignore their partymen, they have no right to continue.'' He said he would look into this aspect with all sincerity.

However, not a single speaker raised a finger against the Chief Minister who sat for over an hour, listening to the suggestions. The attack was concentrated on her Cabinet Ministers. Mr. Chopra also came in for praise for holding the convention at a time when the MCD polls were only months away. They praised him for taking up various activities and keeping workers on their toes.

But the one who came under attack was the Power Minister, Dr. Narendra Nath, whom block presidents accused as behaving in an ``autocratic manner''. A block president from Patparganj said when he approached Dr. Nath with a delegation on some power problem, he was not even given a proper hearing. Majority of speakers pointed out that Dr. Nath had been least helpful and always treated them with contempt.

This is not for the first time that the Ministers have come under attack. Earlier also, legislators have been critical of the way things were conducted by Ministers and some had even demanded a reshuffle.

Mr. Kamal Nath assuring partymen that he would bring the Ministers under check. All Ministers would be made ``prabharis'' of various districts and would take care of party work also. It would be mandatory for them to hold block and district meetings and interact with leaders and workers to get a proper feedback. ``I have asked the Chief Minister to direct the Minister to submit to me a detailed programme as to when they propose to hold these meetings. If any Minister defies this directive, he would be shown the door,'' Mr. Nath asserted.

Mr. Kamal Nath said the party president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, had issued directions for making it clear that only those who have a clean image and belonged to the grassroots should be considered for nomination for MCD elections.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Other States
Previous : A new deal for Jama Masjid area
Next     : Robberies more daring, innovative