Sonia to unveil Indira Gandhi statue in Jaipur

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, DEC. 13. The proposed visit of the Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, to the Rajasthan capital on December 16 has evoked considerable enthusiasm among party workers. Mrs. Gandhi, after reaching here in the morning from Delhi, will attend three programmes before she flies back the same evening.

Though the major function Ms. Gandhi is scheduled to address is the much postponed convention of panchayati raj representatives, the excitement is more over her unveiling the life size statue of the former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. Congress leaders and the Ministers concerned want to make the unveiling of the statue a memorable event and performances by a national-level singer/musician too is on the cards.

The statue is to be installed on one side of the JDA (Jaipur Development Authority) circle on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg. The JLN Marg links the City to Sanganer airport and the spot where the statue will be installed overlooks the Laxminarain Temple (Birla Mandir) on one side and the JDA office building, on the other.

The Minister for Urban Development, Mr. Shanti Dhariwal, who is in charge of the JDA as well, wanted none other than A.R. Rehman to come and sing ``Ma tujhe salam'' on the occasion to be followed by ``Vande Mataram''. However the preoccupations of the singer-composer - perhaps also the financial constraints of the State - have seemingly led the organisers to settle for Hariharan.

The organisers wanted Ms. Gandhi to remain at the venue for at least 45 minutes but indications are that the Congress president is not so sure whether she should devote so much time.

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