Sonia's absence a non-issue,says Cong

New Delhi, Sep 7 (UNI) The Congress today criticised the BJP for unnecessarily making an issue out of Congress President Sonia Gandhi's absence from a Seva Dal function held outside its office to sing Vande Mataram on the centenary day of the national song.

''It was a function organised by the Seva Dal,a frontal organisation of the Congress, to which only the AICC office bearers had been invited,AICC General Secretary and Chairperson of its Media Cell Janardan Dwivedi said, adding Mrs Gandhi had not been invited to the function.

Accusing the BJP of playing politics on a non-issue, Mr Dwivedi said the former should explain why the national song was not sung in the BJP and RSS offices and why only a mere show of singing Vande Mataram was made in the National Executive meeting of the BJP in Dehradun.

AICC Treasurer Moti Lal Vora said the practice with the Congress President was only to attend Independence Day function on August 15 in the AICC Headquarters and there was no precedent for the party president to attend other functions.

Mr Ahmad Patel, Political Secretary to Mrs Gandhi, said not attending a function meant for singing Vande Mataram did not in any manner diminish the spirit of patriotism of tbe Congress President.

UNI YS VD MIR KP2010