Tea party: 'It is for parties to decide'

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI, JULY 9. There is a definite possibility of some political party leaders deciding to stay away from the Pakistan High Commissioner, Mr. Ashraf Jehangir Qazi's ``tea-party'' here on July 14 where members of the Hurriyat Conference are also expected to be guests.

The subject came up at the all-party meeting convened by the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, here today when the opposition party leaders as well as those of the ruling National Democratic Alliance coalition made known their strong opposition to ``any role for the Hurriyat'' during the coming India-Pakistan summit talks.

They sought from Mr. Vajpayee a clarification on the issue which has raised an unpleasant controversy ahead of the summit.

They were told the Government had already advised Pakistan not to invite the Hurriyat leaders for the ``tea- party'' to be hosted by the Pakistan High Commissioner.

But if they do invite the Hurriyat (the Hurriyat leaders today claimed they had received invitations for all their executive committee members), the Government suggested that party leaders would have to decide for themselves whether to attend it or not.

However, the Congress leader, Mr. Natwar Singh, later described this as a ``non-issue'' and a ``red-herring.'' He said that he for one would attend the party.

``How can we decide who should or should not be invited by Mr. Qazi? If a separate meeting had been organised between a Hurriyat delegation and the Pakistan President, that would have been objectionable.''

The CPI(M) also felt that the issue was a non-issue. ``Earlier the Union Government was even prepared to allow a Hurriyat delegation to visit Pakistan. So the talk of a boycott (of Mr. Qazi's tea-party) is incorrect,'' the party politburo stated afterwards.

But, Mr. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, BJP representative at today's meeting, said his party would stay away to register its strong protest against any invitation to the Hurriyat. In fact, it was Mr. Malhotra's suggestion that perhaps party leaders consult among themselves and jointly decide to boycott the ``tea- party''.

Several party leaders felt that they would have to think about attending Mr. Qazi's party for they see the invitation to the Hurriyat as an unnecessary irritation and unstatesmanlike gimmick by Pakistan.

As for the Government, it made it known that having let Pakistan know its disapproval of an invitation to the Hurriyat, it would not violate the protocol. This would mean that the Government would be represented at the High Commissioner's party.

Briefing newsmen later, Mr. Pramod Mahajan, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, said: ``the Hurriyat has no legitimacy, no locus standi. They are Indian nationals and can contest elections. If they win, they do acquire some legitimacy.

``We think any invitation to them would be wrong. We still hope that wisdom would dawn on Pakistan. The summit is between Mr. Vajpayee and the Pakistan President, General Pervez Musharraf, not the Hurriyat. The focus of the summit should not be lost''.

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