Cong ministers should meet workers

In two separate letters, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has asked union ministers from her party to meet workers on their tours outside Delhi and give up their discretionary powers especially in land allotment issues.

In two separate letters, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has asked union ministers from her party to meet workers on their tours outside Delhi and give up their discretionary powers especially in land allotment issues.

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The letters were sent to ministers individually last week following demands by party workers during the plenary session last month that ministers should be more accessible.

During the plenary, Gandhi had pulled up central ministers for “not paying heed” to party men in states ruled by non-Congress governments and “demoralising” them. Rahul Gandhi had also echoed similar views asking ministers to give time to party workers.

The second letter on discretionary powers, addressed to the CMs of Congress-ruled states, is also a follow up of Gandhi’s appeal made to them during the plenary.

Party sources said the letter has also begun eliciting responses. A number of ministers have already replied to the letter.

In his reply, minority affairs minister Salman Khurshid is learnt to have said that no discretionary powers are being exercised by him or his ministry.

General secy Meet

On Saturday, Gandhi held a meeting of party general secretaries and asked them to start preparations to hold block level campaigns against the NDA on the issue of corruption.

She has asked them to ensure that simplicity and austerity are adhered to by Congressmen in states where they are in the government or in the opposition. Except Rahul Gandhi, all general secretaries were present.

Gandhi is learnt to have told them to ensure that there is no extravagance in party programmes in the states and that simplicity be reflected from the life of party leaders and those in government.

Gandhi also reminded the party general secretaries to work for setting up of monitoring committees in the state for regulating the implementation of the centre's flagship programmes.