Though Suresh Kalmadi, president of the Indian Olympic Association, had announced with much fanfare that he had extended an invitation to Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi to take part in the Olympic torch relay to be held in New Delhi, few leaders of the Congress party are willing to comment on whether Gandhi would participate in the event.
Congress leader and former Karnataka chief minister Veerappa Moily, refused to confirm or deny Rahul Gandhi's participation in the torch relay, saying, "We do not know whether he is participating or not".
When contacted, officials of the Indian Olympic Association also refused to say anything about the general secretary. When asked whether Gandhi had communicated his decision to Kalmadi, a source close to the IOA chief said, "Please ask Kalmadiji when he returns to Delhi".
The Olympic torch relay will take place on April 17 after it reaches New Delhi from Islamabad. The relay will take place from Rajpath to India Gate.
Meanwhile, the government has categorically told the Chinese government that the demonstrations by Tibetans during the relay run cannot be banned.
"The Prime Minister has described Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama as the greatest Gandhian, but also told Tibetans that they should not do anything that would spoil India's relations with China," Moily said.