New Delhi is not lobbying with Dhaka to cancel the invitation extended to Indian National Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to attend the celebrations of the birth centenary of the country’s founding President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told Dhaka Tribune on Sunday.
“No one (from the Indian government) has approached me in this regard. But, I can tell you that even the question does not arise to withdraw the invitation extended to Congress President Sonia Gandhi by our prime minister under any circumstances,” Dr Momen told this correspondent.
“It is our event and we will decide whom to invite,” he added.
The Foreign Minister was responding to queries with regard to a media report stating that the BJP-led Indian government had started lobbying with the Bangladesh government to cancel the invitation to Sonia, leader of opposition Congress Party.
File photo of Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen | Collected
During her visit to India in October, 2019, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina invited Sonia and her children Rahul Gandhi, the immediate past president of the Congress, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a general secretary of the party.
The Foreign Minister said: “Sonia Gandhi is the daughter-in-law of the late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Without the support of the Indian government of Indira Gandhi, we could not become independent so quickly.”
“Sonia Gandhi has confirmed her participation in the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence on March 26. And, we will accord her appropriate honour,” he added.
He clarified that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the event on March 17 while Sonia will take part in the event on March 26.
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka could not be reached for comment.
