NCP appreciates Jaitley's move not to visit Pak

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The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Wednesday appreciated Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's decision not to attend the SAARC Finance Ministers' conference in Islamabad while recapitulating that Pakistan failed to discharge its duty of showing least hospitality to a dignitary during Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's recent visit.

NCP's Majeed Memon said it must be a gesture of protest, adding that is why Jaitley is sending Finance Secretary Shashikanta Das on his behalf.

The NCP leader also drew his attention to the fact that there were some ugly scenes of protests on the streets and sloganeering in Islamabad during the Home Minister's visit.

"There were some ugly scenes of protests on the streets and sloganeering and I think Islamabad failed to discharge its duty of showing least hospitality to a dignitary...In that context, Mr. Jaitley's decision not to go should be appreciated," Memon added.

As per government sources, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das would represent India at the two-day event to be hosted in Islamabad on August 25-26.

Earlier, media reports suggested that Pakistan had decided to give a "warm welcome" to Jaitley amid speculation that he was likely to visit Islamabad for the conference.