Pak high commissioner was not invited for Rahul's Iftar event

In a departure from the past, the Congress did not invite the Pakistan High Commissioner to an Iftar party hosted by Rahul Gandhi that was attended by envoys of several Islamic nations.

Rahul Gandhi hosted the Iftar event yesterday at a luxury hotel here, the first organised by him as Congress president.

The Congress had invited high commissioners and ambassadors of several Islamic countries, including Bangladesh, at the Iftar, but the party's top brass did not invite the Pakistan High Commissioner in India to avoid criticism by the ruling BJP, sources said.

During the last Iftar, hosted by former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, the then Pakistan High Commissioner was invited.

Sources said a total of 46 diplomatic representatives of various countries attended Rahul Gandhi's Iftar party this year, the highest attendance ever.

No invitation was sent to Pakistan and Israel. The Palestinian ambassador attended the Iftar, a senior Congress leader said