New Delhi, May 21: Prime Minister-designate Manmohan
Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi will not visit
Sriperumbudur to pay homage to former Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi on his 13th death anniversary, party spokesman Kapil
Sibal said today.
Asked if Singh would accompany Gandhi to Sriperumbudur,
the place where Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated, Sibal said
"no one is going there, including Sonia Gandhi."
It was widely speculated that Gandhi and Singh may visit
the site before a Congress-led government is sworn-in,
possibly tomorrow.
Sibal, who made his maiden entry in Lok Sabha from
Chandni Chowk parliamentary constituency, sought to dispel any
fears of a rift between the partners over cabinet formation
saying a strong government will be formed soon which will last
its full term.
"We will provide a strong and stable government which
will last its full five-year term," he said adding there was
no need to fear.
On RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav's conditions for joining
the coalition government, he merely said "differences of
opinion are part of the family."
"Laloo is a good man and he is head of a strong party,"
he said.
On difficulties in government formation or slow pace in
cabinet formation, Sibal said "our roads are meant to travel
at 40-50 kmph and are we are moving at that speed only. You
will have an answer by tomorrow."
Bureau Report
