Date:29/07/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/07/29/stories/2002072905450100.htm

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Advani expresses `regret' to Jayalalithaa

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI July 28. The Deputy Prime Minister and Union Home Minister, L. K. Advani, today sought to end the unseemly controversy over Chief Ministers not being invited to the swearing-in ceremony of the President by expressing ``regret'' to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, and promising to review the entire Table of Precedence for formal government functions.

Ms. Jayalalithaa made public the details of the conversation with Mr. Advani.

In an official press note, the State Government said Mr. Advani called up Ms. Jayalalithaa to ``express regret for what had happened (non-issuance of invitation to her for the swearing-in ceremony of the President, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, on Thursday).''

``The Chief Minister replied that it was very gracious of the Deputy Prime Minister to personally convey his regrets to her.

The Chief Minister also told him that the Deputy Prime Minister could certainly not be held responsible for the omission and that it was a lapse at the level of bureaucrats. The Chief Minister thanked the Deputy Prime Minister for his concern in the whole affair,'' the press note said.

On Friday, Ms. Jayalalithaa had blamed the Union Home Ministry for giving a ``curt reply'' to the Resident Commissioner of Tamil Nadu that Chief Ministers would not be invited to the ceremony.

Ms. Jayalalithaa's stand that all Chief Ministers should be invited to the swearing-in of the President found support from most political parties in Tamil Nadu, including the opposition DMK.