Ensure huge crowd at FDI rally, CM tells Congressmen

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Thursday asked the Cabinet ministers, Congress legislators and councillors to mobilise people for the party's rally on foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail in Ramlila Maidan on November 4.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi are expected to address the rally to drum up support for the Centre's decision to bring in FDI in multi-brand retail.

Over the past few weeks, Dikshit has been announcing that her government was keen on becoming the first in the country to enforce FDI in retail.

The upcoming public rally is being billed as a show of support in this direction.

The Chief Minister told Newsline on Thursday: "The meeting today was called to divide duties and responsibilities among party members for the FDI rally.

It is a very important public meeting for us."

All Congress members who had contested Assembly and municipal elections have been called along with block-level workers.

The Chief Minister said she was confident that FDI in retail would benefit Delhi's residents and they would be happy with the change.

"Even those who might be a little apprehensive, such as small-time traders, haven't opposed the decision. It is going to create jobs. Small traders realise that their business is not going to be affected by it," she said.

A member who attended the Chief Minister's meeting said everyone was told to ensure that they mobilise a "huge crowd" for the rally.

Dikshit tasked each of the MLAs to ensure presence of at least 2,500 people from their respective constituencies and told them that their contribution would be monitored.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee President J P Aggarwal was not present at the meeting. Congress Legislature Party spokesman Mukesh Sharma said Aggarwal was invited, but he didn't come.

"The Chief Minister asked all MPs, MLAs, councillors and block leaders and workers to work hard and make the rally a success," Sharma said.

... contd.

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