Rashid invites Najma, Hamid for cup of tea for ''nation's sake''

New Delhi, July 23 (UNI) Talking over a cup of tea and savouring good food in a spirit of bonhomie can relieve stress and send a signal to the nation that the contest for high offices would no more be indecently bitter, UNPA candidate Rashid Masood has written to his rivals.

Mr Masood today sent an invitation to UPA Vice-Presidential candidate Hamid Ansari and NDA candidate Najma Heptullah suggesting that they have tea or dinner or lunch by rotation at one another's houses.

Expressing anguish over the ''bitter'' campaign for the just concluded presidential election, which '' saw much mud slinging by rival candidates'', Mr Masood said he would not like the campaign for vice presidentail elections to become like that.

''Not only personal allegations were levelled but the language used was highly objectionable and indecent. I along with you want to set an example that future elections would avoid mud slinging and the decorum and decency of the high office would be maintained,'' he said in the letter.

The UNPA candidate said they could meet anytime and on the day convenient to them.

''Let us sit together for the sake of nation,'' he said.

Mr Ansari and Dr Heptullah filed their nominations today while Mr Masood had filed his papers last week.

UNI