Bhujbal to attend Taj programme; will gift book to Obama

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who was miffed after his personal details were sought by the US Consulate here for attending programmes during Barack Obama's visit, will attend the President's event scheduled at the Taj Hotel this afternoon.

The US President will be delivering a speech against terrorism at the iconic hotel in commemoration of the 26/11 attacks and pay his respects to the victims and sign the hotel guest book.

"Bhujbal would be gifting a book titled 'Slavery' by Mahatma (Jyotiba) Phule to the President at the Taj function," an official from the Deputy Chief Minister's office said.

However, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan may not attend the event.

"The Chief Minister would be receiving the US President on his arrival at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. So it is difficult for him to reach the Taj immediately," an official from the Chief Minister's Office said.

Obama will arrive at the city airport at 12.50 pm from where he will head to the Taj hotel by a chopper. Other officials accompanying the President would be travelling by road, he said.

Additional Chief Secretary of Home Department Chandra Iyengar, Maharashtra Director General of Police D Sivanandan and city Police Commissioner Sanjeev Dayal would also not attend the Taj function as they would be busy handling security, the official added.

Senior ministers and bureaucrats in Maharashtra were upset after personal details were sought from them by the US Consulate for attending programmes during Obama's visit.

"In the invitation to me, to the Chief Minister, Home Secretary and others, a form is attached in which they have asked for PAN number, photo, passport number and other details...The host is asking for details from a guest he is inviting. If he doesn't know who this guest is, then why is he inviting," Bhujbal had said yesterday.

The US Consulate had apologised and described it as a "clerical error".