Rashtriya Muslim Manch withdraws Iftar invitation to Pak envoy

The Rashtriya Muslim Manch on Tuesday announced that it is withdrawing its Iftar party invitation to Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit.

The party is to be held at the Parliament Annexe on July 2.

With Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives being responsible for the death of as many as eight Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit had earlier shrugged off questions related to the attack, saying that media would be better off focusing on the Iftaar party hosted by the Pakistan High Commission.

"It's the month of Ramzaan, let's focus on this Iftaar party. The issue of Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed issue between India and Pakistan. It's an issue which needs to be solved. We hope we will sit and discuss on the issue and find a solution. Let's have the iftaar party and enjoy ourselves," Basit said

The Shiv Sena had accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of losing the 'Hindutva Agenda' after the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), an affiliate of the Sangh, announced plans to host a grand Iftar on July 2, saying it is 'pure hypocrisy' on the part of the saffron party.

Kayande also questioned the criticism by the BJP and the RSS of the Congress when it had earlier tried to do the same.

Her comments came after the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), invited ambassadors from nearly 140 countries earlier to attend an international Roza Iftar party at the Parliament House Annexe on July 2.