December 22, 2013
MUMBAI: American diplomats were conspicuous by their absence at BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's rally here on Sunday in the wake of the chill in India-US relations.
December 22, 2013
MUMBAI: American diplomats were conspicuous by their absence at BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's rally here on Sunday in the wake of the chill in India-US relations.
Gujarat's CM and BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi addresses the crowd during his Mumbai rally on Decemver 22, 2013. (Reuters photo)
The Bharatiya Janata Party had invited around 140 consulates and other diplomatic missions in Mumbai — besides 10,000 tea vendors — for the "Mahagarjana" rally.
However, in view of the fury over the treatment meted out to Indian diplomat Devyani Khboragade in the US, the invitation to US consulate officials was taken back, BJP's Rajiv Pratap Rudy said on Saturday.
BJP national executive member Raj Purohit, however, said on Sunday that the invitation was not cancelled. "Only, there was no follow up from our side, and also on their side."
Modi's rally was attended by representatives from various consulates in Mumbai including Japan, Australia and Canada, Purohit told IANS.
The US consulate is located a stone's throw away from the rally venue at Bandra East.
'Vote For India'
In his Mumbai rally speech, Modi has appealed for "vote for India." "I want that in the next election, people should not vote for a party but for the country," he said at a huge rally here.
"The country is supreme … So, I say, 'Vote For India' to solve our problems," he said.
Courtesy: IANS
