New Delhi:
While speculations had been rife that former president Pranab Mukherjee is not invited for Rahul Gandhi's Iftar party on June 13, Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala on Monday threw waters to all those rumours.
"Congress President has extended an invite to Pranab Mukherjee and he has graciously accepted. Hope this will set to rest unwarranted speculation," Surjewala said in a tweet.
"To set the record straight, May I point out that Pranab Dada had attended the last Iftar get-together organised by then Congress President, Sonia Gandhi, too. Bereft of unwarranted issues, let compassion and friendship for all guide us in the holy month of Ramadan," the Congress spokesperson added.
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— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) June 11, 2018
Multiple media houses have raised questions on Iftaar invite to @CitiznMukherjee on behalf of Congress President.
Congress President has extended an invite to Sh. Pranab Mukherjee & he has graciously accepted. Hope this will set to rest unwarranted speculation.
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Earlier several media houses have raised questions since the lack of an invite to Mukherjee was reported close on the heels of the former president attending a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) event in Nagpur.
Following his acceptance of the RSS event, a political slugfest erupted between Mukherjee and the Congress leaders, who were reportedly upset with his decision.
However, other top leaders like Arvind Kejriwal, former vice-president Hamid Ansari are also missing from the list of people called for the Congress event.
It will be Gandhi's first Iftar party after being elected as the Congress chief. The gala event will take place at the Taj Palace hotel on Wednesday.
Read | Nagpur exercise – Pranab-RSS move to dampen Congress’ spirits
In 2015, then Congress president Sonia Gandhi hosted the last Iftar party of the Congress.
Earlier on June 6, President Ram Nath Kovind decided to do away with the Iftar party saying that there should be no religious observance at taxpayer's expense at a public building like Rashtrapati Bhavan.
