File photo of BJP General Secretary, Ram Madhav
After criticising Vice President Hamid Ansari for not attending the International Yoga Day celebrations in Delhi and then apologising for it, BJP leader Ram Madhav called on Mr Ansari today.
The BJP general secretary presented a bouquet to the Vice President at the latter's residence. Sources say the meeting was sought by the BJP leader to make amends.
Mr Madhav, is on deputation from the party's ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), had tweeted on June 21 in which he took a jibe at Mr Ansari's absence at the yoga event at Rajpath. The BJP leader later deleted the tweet and apologised, saying he had learnt that Mr Ansari was unwell, but the damage had been done.
When asked about the incident, Mr Madhav told reporters, "As far as the tweet is concerned, it was withdrawn and the matter is closed there and ends there."
The government had also apologised for Madhav's criticism of Ansari's absence at the Yoga event where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief guest.
The minister of state for AYUSH, Mr Shripad Naik said, "Unknowingly something happens, we apologise for that. It should have been avoided. It's a mistake, he (Madhav) agrees, he apologised. He withdrew his statement."
Mr Naik had cited protocol to say that the Vice President can't be invited to an event where the Prime Minister is the Chief Guest.
The Ministry of AYUSH had organised the International Yoga Day event at Rajpath which was attended by a record 35,000 participants.