IT took nearly 10 days for an invite from the team of US President Barack Obama to reach Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s office. Confirming that he was one of the only three chief ministers invited to dinner with the US President on January 25, Fadnavis said the invite was sent to Delhi’s Maharashtra Sadan on January 17 but did not reach his office in time. A probe into the lapse revealed that the outgoing resident commissioner at Maharashtra Sadan, Bipin Mallick, had told two subordinates to convey the invite to the Chief Minister’s Office. Instead of mailing the invite or sharing details, these officials sent the invite through Speed Post, which did not reach in time for Fadnavis to attend the event. Fadnavis said on Wednesday that action is being contemplated for the lapse. “The invitation was received on January 17. The official concerned sent it to Mumbai by speed post,” the CM told reporters here. “The resident commissioner at Delhi has been asked to send a detailed report. Action will be taken as per rules,” he said. The Chief Minister and his wife Amruta Fadnavis were among the dignitaries present at the high tea hosted for Obama and his wife Michelle at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Sunday. Amruta was later quoted as saying: “I told Michelle Obama I have always admired her. I follow her activities and efforts towards social causes and how she is a role model for women worldwide.” with PTI
