Manisha's five minute speech was peppered with talk about ``working for the for the under privileged'', ``spreading the message'', ``making a difference'' etc.

Harsh Vardhan, after the introductory speech on the Matri Suraksha Abhiyaan launched by the Delhi government and taken up by WHO, said the Hindi film star had ``volunteered to come here.'' He also mentioned in passing that he had liked Manisha's latest release Dil Se very much and wondered why critics had panned it.

Manisha, in a light brown salwar-suit and looking as cool as a cucumber, understandably attracted most of the attention, with those present scarcely giving the posters and charts related to the drive a glance.``No, I have no interest in politics. I will support those working for a cause, irrespective of the party they belong to,'' she said, smilingly. She was reacting to a -- somewhat cynical -- question whether her joining the safe motherhood drive was an investment for a possible ticket to the Rajya Sabha.

Harsh Vardhan said he was grateful Manisha had extended her support to the drive. ``There are a lot of issues,'' he explained, ``which a politician, however serious, might not be able to influence people about. But they could be influenced by somebody they idolise.'' He said he hoped the women in jhuggis would be convinced by Manisha to visit antenatal care clinics (there are 600 of them) that have been set-up.

As for her own contribution, she said: ``I want to do whatever I can: visit camps, generate funds and just lend my name to the cause''.