NDA to keep off tea party

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 11. The ruling National Democratic Alliance this evening decided to keep away from the Pakistani High Commissioner's ``high tea'' for Gen. Pervez Musharraf here on July 14. Interpreting the invitation for the All-Party Hurriyat Conference as an attempt to project the conglomerate as the sole representative voice of Jammu and Kashmir, the NDA decided it was ``unacceptable'' and as ``an expression of displeasure'' the ruling alliance constituents would not attend the reception.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, presided over the meeting. The rationale behind the decision was explained by the convener, Mr. George Fernandes. According to him, the Pakistani High Commissioner had opted not to invite anyone else from Jammu and Kashmir, not even any representative of the elected Government in the State; this was seen as a calculated move to accord to the Hurriyat a status, which was unacceptable to the political leadership (as different from the Government).

Mr. Fernandes cautioned that the NDA's decision should neither be seen as a ``snub'' nor as a ``boycott'', but just ``an expression of displeasure, if at all''. Mr. Fernandes pointed out that the Government of India was the host for the Pakistani President's visit, and there would be no dilution in respect and protocol for the visiting head of state. He also hoped the boycott of the ``tea party'' would not overshadow the summit.

The NDA convener refused to ask the Opposition parties to stay away from the ``tea party''. Mr. Fernandes clarified his remarks yesterday (in Lucknow where he thought it was all right to attend the reception) as his personal view. The irony is that so far only Mr. Fernandes and Ms. Jaya Jaitly are understood to be the sole NDA functionaries to have received the invitation.

According to information available with the NDA leaders, except Mr. Jagmohan, all other six MPs from the capital are believed to be on the invitation list. Also on the list are believed to be Mr. L. K. Advani (in the category of political leaders),and Mr. Jana Krishnamurthi, BJP president. From the Government side, those invited are the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, the Foreign Secretary, the Joint Secretary (Pakistan), the chief protocol officer, and two directors on the Pakistan desk in the Ministry of External affairs. However, Mr. Singh is most unlikely to put in an appearance at the High Commissioner's party as he would be leaving for Agra in the afternoon of July 14.

Mr. Vajpayee is understood to have briefed the NDA leaders on the nature of the proposed talks with the visiting President. Apart from the Kashmir issue, other items of the agenda could be trade, cultural relations and terrorism. The Prime Minister also told the NDA partners about the confidence- building measures initiated by the Government in the last few days.

Mr. Fernandes revealed that the Prime Minister had decided to include the External Affairs Minister, the Home Minister, the Commerce Minister and the Finance Minister in the official delegation for the summit. Asked with whom these Ministers would interact, he said they would be in Agra to advise the Prime Minister.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Next     : BJP not invited, Cong. rethink