BJP brass turn down lunch with prime minister

Miffed at CBI summons to Guj home minister in encounter case, BJP turns down invite

PTI | July 23, 2010



Top BJP leaders today refused prime minister Manmohan Singh's invitation for lunch ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament, apparently angry over the CBI summoning Gujarat home minister Amit Shah in connection with the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case.

PMO sources said that BJP leader L K Advani, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley were invited for the lunch to discuss issues that may come up in the Parliament session.

The BJP leaders called to express their regret this morning, the sources said.

BJP sources also said they had accepted the lunch invitation but expressed their regret this morning.

Party sources said the leaders decided not to attend the lunch in the wake of the controversy over CBI summons to Amit Shah, who was to appear before the agency today.

The leaders, including the three, also met to discuss the issue at the residence of Advani.

Related report:

PM calls off lunch for BJP leaders

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's lunch for top BJP leaders today ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament was called off after they expressed their inability to attend it.

PMO sources said that BJP leader L K Advani, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley were invited for the lunch.

This morning they rang up to say they would not be able to attend the lunch, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the top BJP leaders held a strategy session at the residence of Advani in the wake of CBI summons to Gujarat Home Minister Amit Shah in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.

All the three leaders are attending the meeting.

 

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