New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad have chosen to skip the dinner invitation extended by President Ram Nath Kovind in honour of visiting United States President Donald Trump. The dinner will take place on Tuesday evening.
While Singh had earlier accepted the invite, he expressed his inability to attend on Monday. Sources close to Singh said he has conveyed his regret to the President's office.
The opposition Congress is peeved at the government's move to not allow its top leaders a meeting with the visiting US president, as has been the tradition.
Sources close to Azad said since no invitation has been extended to the chairman of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Sonia Gandhi, it would not be appropriate for him to attend the function either.
Earlier, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had declined the invite, saying since Sonia Gandhi has not been invited, he will not attend.
The floor leaders of both the Houses of Parliament have been invited for the presidential banquet. Trump's schedule has no mention of meeting with any Opposition leaders. The Congress on Friday said it had not received any invitation for its leaders to meet Trump on his two-day visit to India.
(With inputs from agencies)
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