India rubbishes Bangla paper claim about EAM meeting

New Delhi, Aug 29 (UNI) India today rubbished media reports in Bangladesh regarding a ''secret meeting'' between External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and some Bangladeshi politicians describing these as ''misleading, motivated and malicious.'' Responding to questions about an article in a Bangladeshi newspaper regarding the so called meeting, an official spokesman said ''The story in the Bangladeshi newspaper is misleading, motivated and malicious.'' A front page article in the Bangladeshi newspaper "Naya Diganto" alleged that a secret meeting had taken place between External Affairs Minister and some Bangladeshi politicians and activists.

''The External Affairs Minister does not meet visitors from Bangladesh to interfere in matters relating to internal political developments in that country,'' the spokesman said.

He said India has and would respect the sovereignty of Bangladesh, which is a close and friendly neighbour.

UNI