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Dharam Shourie in New York
A planned dinner reception on Saturday for Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has triggered a controversy among organisations of non-resident Indians instead of being a harmonious community event to enable leaders to interact with him.
Though over two dozen organisations are co-sponsoring the event with Overseas Friends of Bharatiya Janata Party, those left out are complaining that BJP has 'hijacked' the dinner and packed the reception with its own supporters.
Among the most vocal critics is president of the Indian National Overseas Congress Surinder Singh Malhotra who charged BJP with 'hijacking' the event.
"Is Vajpayee the Prime Minister of India or BJP?" he asked and said, "The loss will be his, not ours."
He also said the Consulate has been holding the reception for the prime ministers in the past at which all community leaders were invited.
But the Consulate denied any wrongdoing, saying Vajpayee is visiting Washington first, where the embassy is organising a reception.
A Consulate spokesperson said, "Had he come to New York first, the embassy and the Consulate would have organised the reception here."
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