Karzai's lecture in Indian parliament cancelled

Afghan President Hamid Karzai's Hiren Mukherjee Memorial Lecture in parliament has been cancelled apprehending low attendance by MPs, said sources Thursday.

The Afghan president, who is arriving Thursday evening on a four-day visit, was scheduled to address the 5th Hiren Mukherjee Memorial Annual Parliamentary Lecture in the Central Hall of Parliament on the topic 'Afghanistan's Experience in Constitutionalism and Democracy: Lessons We Take From India'.

"The Afghan president's lecture has been cancelled," a source told IANS.

Asked for the reason, the source said they apprehended that the lecture may not be well attended in the wake of continuous disruptions in parliament by MPs which would be a cause of embarrassment to the government.

Karzai is to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday and leaves for Pune Saturday where he is to attend a joint Business Interaction organized by FICCI, ASSOCHAM and CII and Sunday address the Symbiosis International University.