BJP takes back invite to US to attend Modi's Mumbai rally

Angered by the treatment meted out to Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in New York, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday rescinded its invitation to the US Consulate in Mumbai to attend Narendra Modi's rally in the city on Sunday.

BJP general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy told PTI that his party had sent invitations to 141 consulates of various countries, including the US, for Modi's rally.

"These general invitations were sent to the consulates through e-mail by the Maharashtra unit of BJP with no specific persuasion to the American consulate to attend. We have now categorically rescinded our invitation to the US Consulate to attend this rally in the backdrop of what happened to Khobragade," Rudy said.

"We absolutely do not desire that the US should be coming to this rally," he added.

Pakistan Consulate officials were not invited to the rally.

Rudy said consulates of Russia, Australia, Zambia, Rawanda and several other countries have already sent their confirmations about attending the rally.

BJP had earlier invited officials from Indian missions of various countries to a rally in the national capital before the Delhi elections.

Khobragade was arrested in New York last week on the charge of visa fraud and subjected to strip search.

BJP has been unhappy with the US decision not to extend a visa to Modi due to his alleged involvement in the Gujarat riots of 2002. Its leaders had raised this issue on several occasions in the past and insisted an elected leader like Modi cannot be denied a visa when no charges have been proved against him.

Image: BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi will address a mega rally in Mumbai on Sunday