'Tired' PM skips leaders' meeting, PMO says he is okay

Prime minister Manmnohan Singh today skipped a meeting of leaders of political parties on the eve of Parliament's monsoon session, with Speaker Meira Kumar saying that he could not attend it due to "ill health".

However, the Prime Minister's Office said Singh, 77, was only tired after attending the day-long meeting of the National development council yesterday.

"He (Singh) could not attend the meeting due to ill health. We wish him speedy recovery," Kumar said when asked why the Prime Minister was not present at the lunch which he usually attends before the beginning of a Parliament session.

Media Advisor to Prime Minister Harish Khare said that Singh "is fine. He is okay. There is nothing wrong on his health front".