Cong denies Rahul invite to team from Anna village

“Rahulji was unaware of any such a meeting. To blame him (Rahul) for this mess up is unfair,” said Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury.

Asked about the reasons for Gandhi not meeting the delegation from Ralegan Siddhi village, Renuka Chowdhury said “these things are being said after assuming that Gandhi was sitting in his home leisurely and did not meet them but a leader like him could be having many pre-fixed engagements.”

Meanwhile, members of a delegation from the social activist’s village were disappointed that they could not meet Gandhi scion. They include sarpanch Jaisingh Rao Mapari and Anna Hazare’s personal secretary Suresh Pathare.

The delegation decided to return home saying now even if they get an appointment, the village will decide whether to meet the Congress leader or not. “We got an appointment call from offices of Thomas and Gandhi. Gandhi’s office even sought details of people who will meet him. That’s why we have come. Now, we don’t feel like meeting Gandhi,” Mapari said.

However, the office of Congress general secretary refused giving any appointment to a team from the village of anti-corruption crusader.

“It is incorrect to say that we gave them an appointment. In fact, no one (from the office) called them. It is totally wrong to claim that Rahul Gandhi had invited them for a meeting,” said an official from Rahul Gandhi’s office.

In an attempt to clear the air, Thomas apologised and said: “There was a communication gap in my office and for that I apologise to the sarpanch (village head) and other members coming from Ralegan. They sent a letter to me on September 10 requesting to arrange a meeting with Gandhi. No meeting was confirmed.”