Dinner marked daughter’s housewarming, clarifies Rao

Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh on Thursday broke his silence over the dinner gathering that had recently stirred political speculation in Haryana. He clarified that the dinner was organised to mark the housewarming of his daughter Arti Singh Rao, who is also the Health Minister of Haryana, after she got a residence in Chandigarh.

“It was a housewarming dinner — a ​customary occasion, where one invites near and dear ones. Since people and MLAs from south Haryana are associated with us, they were invited to informally mark the occasion and let them know that my daughter now has a residence in Chandigarh. Unfortunately, the media portrayed it in a misleading manner,” Rao said while talking to the media in Rewari.

He further pointed out that the BJP itself conducts outreach programmes such as ‘Kamal Sakhi’, where women and their spouses are invited to meetings. “Ministers, MPs and other prominent figures attend such events, which are regularly held in Delhi as well. There is nothing unusual about it,” he added.

Rao emphasised that not a single BJP leader had questioned the dinner. In fact, two or three MLAs called me and expressed concern over media reports claiming that they were asked to explain their attendance. But the truth is no one in the party raised any such issue,” he added.

Highlighting the party’s guiding principles, Rao said, “The BJP consistently encourages expanding one’s social base and fostering brotherhood. I have set Mondays to meet the public and stay connected with people.”

Haryana Tribune