Until yesterday, prime minister Manmohan Singh was in two minds whether to hold a press conference to present a report card of the first anniversary of UPA-II.
There were many issues he felt would be difficult to handle — price rise, Indian Premier League fiasco, ministers singing in different tunes. But finally, it was decided that he would face a large media gathering at Vigyan Bhawan on May 24.
Singh will present a report to the aam aadmi (common man) on the UPA government’s successful completion of six years.
A drill is going on in the prime minister’s office for the past one month to collect details of success stories of various ministries to make them part of the PM’s presentation to the nation.
The press meet will be connected live to six metropolises through video conference to enable Singh to take questions from journalists in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Lucknow. The Press Information Bureau and ministry of external affairs’ XP Division are also arranging video facility to enable journalists ask questions from some of the foreign capitals.
Senior ministers will also be present on the occasion. Dr Harish Khare, information adviser to the PM, will conduct the show. In all, 250 TV news channels and 1,500 accredited correspondents of the print media will be accommodated at the venue to join the commemoration of the sixth anniversary of the UPA regime.
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will host a reception the same evening for Congress MPs and allies. Hotel Ashok is a tentative venue. The final decision will be taken later, Congress sources said.
They further said the Congress has already sent out a circular to presidents of the state units to organise functions in their capitals, highlighting achievements of the UPA during its six years in office.UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will host a reception the same evening for Congress MPs and allies. Hotel Ashok is a tentative venue. The final decision will be taken later, Congress sources said.
