Congress denies Sonia snub to Jiechi

NEW DELHI: A day after Sonia Gandhi allegedly snubbed visiting Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi by denying him appointment, the Congress sought to douse the controversy on Wednesday, claiming no “meeting had been scheduled”. The party also described attempts to link the episode to China’s “hostile” role at the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which gave India a clean waiver to do N-business with its members, as “incorrect and wrong”.

External affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee also underlined the point by making it clear that he had full faith in the Chinese government.

A party spokesperson also expressed satisfaction with the views expressed by Jiechi that his country had played a constructive role. 

Earlier, the Congress spokesperson denied media reports referring to Sonia’s alleged snub to the Chinese foreign minister.

“News reports in a section of the press are incorrect and baseless...there was no scheduled meeting between the Congress president and the Chinese foreign minister,” Shakeel Ahmed said.

The Congress spokesperson also emphasised that the Congress and the Communist Party of China (CPC) shared a cordial relationship and Sonia had recently visited China on the invitation of the CPC and signed a memorandum of understanding.

Asked whether a request was made by the Chinese foreign minister for a meeting with Sonia, Ahmed said only the foreign ministry would be able to reply.

“I repeat there was no meeting scheduled. I have nothing more to add,” he said.
j_ansari@dnaindia.net