Mahajan dares Sonia to produce CII invite

It was the word ‘‘inauguration,’’ which was used by their party president to emphasise that the winds of change were blowing in Congress’ favour. The remarks were rebutted by Vajpayee the next day when he said: ‘‘I must confess that unlike some others, I am unable to see the deep symbolic meaning attached to the inaugural and concluding sessions of a CII conference.’’

Sources stated it was Vajpayee himself who was invited on Friday morning but due to pressing engagements, he opted to attend the CII conference only on Saturday.

Mahajan asked the Congress to let them have a look at the CII invitation card with the word ‘‘inaugurate’’ on it. He said all such ceremonies associated with the inauguration of a conference were missing. Neither a lamp was lit nor did CII president Sanjiv Goenka ask Sonia to make an ‘‘inaugural’’ address.