Aiyar tries to patch up with partymen

Gangtok, Apr 2: Union Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar today tried to make light of yesterday's boycott of his visit to the Congress party office by the party supporters, saying '' they have boycotted me but I have not boycotted them''.

The Congress activists yesterday boycotted Mr Ayiar's visit to the party office and greeted him with ''black flags'' for saying the Panchayat raj institutions in the state was functioning well .

The Congress supporters alleged that the Minister made the statement even after the party President informed him about the matters going on in the panchayats through a letter. The Minister's statement ruined the interest of the party and presented them in poor light, they alleged.

Mr Aiyar said though he had got the letter and asked questions based on the letter to the people during his tour but heard no grievances.

He said he was the party General Secretary and was in charge of the party affairs in Sikkim during the 2002 Gram Panchayat elections. '' I asked the party people to contest the elections in more number but they did not listen. They also did not participate in the by-elections that followd'' He hoped they would participate in the elections in future and improve the situation.

Mr Aiyar also said as a party man he would work shoulder to shoulder with the partymen to strengthen the party position in the state.

UNI