Cong leader unhappy with Aiyar reception

Aizawl, May 24 (UNI) Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region(DoNER) Mani Shankar Aiyar did not receive a warm welcome from the state ministers when he arrived here a week back, former Congress minister PC Zoram Sangliana said here today.

''No welcome gates, no overhead welcome banners, no ministers to to receive him at the airport, which perhaps made many think that this minister must not be as important as the Union government ministers, who had visited Mizoram earlier'' he said.

''There were no ministers even at the Zemabawk helipad, where he was taken from the airport. On his arrival, he was neither offered any refreshment nor given a red carpet welcome. Even the pilot car he was allotted did not have a siren. This was a shame for Mizoram as a whole,'' Mr Sangliana told UNI today.

According to sources, the only officials who received Mr Aiyar at Zemabawk helipad were Information director LR Sailo, his deputy Lalnithangi and CEO Lalmalsawm.

When Mr Sangliana expressed his disappointment over the MNF government's reception, Mr Aiyar had said,''The BJP (and its allies) do not like me much.'' ''It was so sad that the Mizoram government treated Mr Aiyar, who is the most important Central minister for Mizoram, like that. I was hoping that he should be made available for various youth and sports associations here, which was also not done by the MNF government,'' Mr Sangliana said.

UNI