New Delhi:
Congress MP PT Thomas met the sarpanch of Anna Hazare's native village in Delhi this morning over the confusion on his reported meeting with party leader Rahul Gandhi. After meeting him, the Congress MP from Idukki said it was miscommunication from his office that led to the mix-up.
Ralegan Sidhi Sarpanch Jaisingh Mapari, accompanied by Hazare's personal assistant Suresh Pathare, came to Delhi yesterday. They said they were in the Capital to meet the Congress General Secretary.
"Rahul Gandhi has called us for talks on Tuesday. Anna has directed us to hold the talks," Mr Mapari told reporters yesterday, adding that the invitation to meet Rahul was extended to him by Mr Thomas, who had visited the village some time ago and was highly impressed with the development work there. However, later in the day, Mr Gandhi's office denied that he had any meeting scheduled with the anti-corruption crusader's associates.
Anna's personal assistant Mr Pathare insists that they came to Delhi after an appointment was offered to them. "We did not come here with any political agenda. Mr Thomas only told us that we should talk to Rahul Gandhi about gram vikas (rural development) since he's interested in it. He also told us that Rahul's office wanted some letter from us and in that letter it was clearly written that Mr Thomas suggested we meet Rahul. Mr Thomas's office was continuously in touch with us and told us that they have fixed an appointment for 9 am on October 18."
Blaming "miscommunication" on behalf of his office, Mr Thomas today apologized for the confusion. "There was a communication gap on behalf of my office which led to the mix-up. When I went to Ralegan Siddhi, they asked if they could meet Rahul Gandhi and I said I would try. Last 15 days, I was unwell and in Kerala so the miscommunication from my office happened. My office people told them that they could come to Delhi after the 15th to meet Rahul Gandhi," he said.
Mr Mapari and the five others accompanying him have decided that they don't want to meet Rahul Gandhi now and will return to Ralegan Siddhi. "If invited again, I will never come again even if others do," a visibly upset Mr Mapari said.