Sound system trips at Congress plenary

NEW DELHI - The sound system played truant on the second day of the 83rd Congress plenary Sunday, as it went off or thrice emitted high-pitched sounds during the session - leaving organisers with red faces.

The system first made a huge noise a few times towards the beginning of the session when 4-5 singers were singing Vande Mataram - the national song. Then it went off when Chhattisgarh Congress chief Dhanendra Sahu was speaking.

During the course of Gujarat Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil’s speech, the sound system went silent for around five minutes.

The dignitaries, including Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, were evidently upset with the technical glitches.

Dikshit personally stepped down from the dais and went to the officials to get the sound system back on track after the last glitch, following which there was no problem.

The Congress has made elaborate arrangements for thousands of delegates attending its three-day plenary session that began in Burari here Saturday.