Advani urges local authorities to understand, introspect their role

New Delhi, Oct 3 (UNI) Regretting the absence of respect given by the common man to today's politician, Leader of Opposition L K Advani gave a clarion call to all local authorities to understand and introspect their role to restore commoners' faith back.

Mr Advani was speaking at the concluding ceremony of three-day-long Gandhi-mela 2007 organised by Municipal Corporation of Delhi in co-operation with Ministry of Finance at Pragati Maidan yesterday, to commemorate the 138th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and MCD's 50th anniversary.

Mr Advani urged all local administrations and their representatives to understand their role, ''being the first to deal with common man's problem they should introspect, understand and perform their duties better so that lost respect for a politician could be resurrected back in people's hearts.'' Drawing a comparison between pre-independence leaders and today's politicians, Mr Advani said they were revered not because they were great learned men but because they chose and used the forum of politics to work and helped shape the life of a common man. ''We should also work in the similar manner to win people's faith again and give them a positive impression about politics,'' he said.

Mayor Arti Mehra who was also there as guest at the function backed Mr Advani and advocated Gandhian values. While promising to improve work at grassroot levels, she said, ''I need support of the common man to achieve the goal and will try to invent more new methods to make the city a clean city.'' Commenting on the journey of Gandhi Mela from Red Fort's premises to Roshanara Bagh and then Ferozeshah Fort, and now to Pragati Maidan Mr Advani said the mela always had a novelty in it and Gandhian ideas always attracted people.

Mela was a great hit among delhihites also with about 70 general stalls and 15 food stalls. A spate of dances, music, perfomances by kids and variety of exhibitions had attracted a large crowd, said one of the organiser. Around 48 NGOs and 58 other departments participated in the programme, including some of the government departments. Many corporation schools children also participated in various competitions like fancy dress, word puzzles, painting and group singing.

''It is a great fun to be here I wish these kinds of fairs should be organised frequently, as it is a complete package of fun, knowledge and performances,'' said an elated visitor.

Among government departments Police Welfare Society, Urban Development Department and Gandhi Smriti were awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes respectively whereas in non government sector Saksham, Swikriti and Nava Jyoti bagged the prizes with Bapu Care getting the consolation prize.

Deputy Mayor Sawinder Singh, president of Gandhi Mela Samiti Mr Subhash Arya, Head of Education Committee Mr Prithviraj Sahni, Corporation Commissioner Mr Ashok Kumar Nigam, Mrs Kamala Advani, wife of Mr Advani and Pratibha Advani, daughter of Advani were among other attendees.

UNI