How Dikshit's advice to invite 'difficult' officer home for breakfast helped then minister Yusuf

Congress leader Haroon Yusuf recalled former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit as someone who loved to host people for breakfast, and advised him the same when an officer posted under his department was "difficult" to deal with.

Yusuf, who was a minister in Dikshit's Cabinet from 2001-13 and handled portfolios like civil and food supplies and transport, went to her with a concern over the officer who was known for not performing.

"I went to Dikshit with a request to give me another officer. She (Dikshit) said nothing can be done as she had already spoken to the Lieutenant Governor, who had denied the request," Yusuf said.

The former Delhi chief minister said there was no option but to get the work done through the concerned officer.

"She told me to invite the officer for breakfast the next day," Yusuf said.

The trick worked, the Congress leader recollected and he along with the officer could execute different projects.

Yusuf said Dikshit herself hosted people, including her Cabinet colleagues, for breakfast.

"She loved to serve the breakfast herself," he recalled.

The 81-year-old Congress leader, who gave Delhi its modern look, passed away Saturday afternoon at a private hospital here after suffering a cardiac arrest. She was cremated with full state honours at the Nigambodh Ghat Sunday.