13 hrs ago
Opposition MPs Gather at Delhi Restaurant After Election Commission Protest
About 100 MPs from opposition parties met for lunch at a Delhi restaurant called Sagar Ratna.
They gathered on Wednesday, one day after police stopped their march to the Election Commission.
The lunch was planned at short notice.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said the invitation was sent late, so some parties could not attend.
The Samajwadi Party was not there.
The restaurant said it could not be booked entirely for the MPs, but they were able to visit after 2pm.
Many people ordered dosas, according to staff.
Congress shared a video showing MPs from several opposition parties at the gathering.
Around 100 INDIA bloc MPs had lunch at Sagar Ratna on Janpath on Wednesday.
The gathering came a day after police broke up their march to the Election Commission.
The Samajwadi Party was absent; Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said the late-arranged lunch invitation may explain why some parties were not represented.
A restaurant manager said the booking was made the previous night and the MPs could come after 2pm.
Congress, Trinamool, CPM, JMM, VCK, IUML and CPI representatives were among those shown in a video released by Congress.
- Who
- Around 100 INDIA bloc MPs, including representatives of Congress, Trinamool, CPM, JMM, VCK, IUML and CPI.
- What
- The MPs gathered for lunch at Sagar Ratna.
- Where
- Sagar Ratna on Janpath, Delhi.
- When
- Wednesday, a day after their march to the Election Commission was broken up by police.
- Why
- Two senior Congress sources said the restaurant was chosen for its location near the Jantar Mantar protest site.
Key facts
- Attendees
- Around 100 INDIA bloc MPs
- Restaurant
- Sagar Ratna, a vegetarian food chain founded in Delhi by Jayaram Banan
- Location
- Janpath, Delhi
- Timing
- Wednesday; the lunch followed the previous day's protest march
- Booking
- The restaurant manager said the booking was made the previous night and the MPs could be accommodated after 2pm
- Absent party
- The Samajwadi Party was notably absent; a Congress MP cited the late invitation and an MP described a miscommunication that had been sorted out
- Reported dishes
- Staff said many MPs ordered dosas; Rahul Gandhi had ghee roast, Priyanka Gandhi had chilli paneer, and Mallikarjun Kharge had rasam rice and papad
Quotes
Jairam Ramesh
Congress MP and communications head
“All INDIA janbandhan parties had been invited for today’s lunch. But the decision for the lunch had been taken late last night and communicated. It was therefore natural that some parties could not be represented.”
telegraphindia.com
Restaurant manager
Manager at the Sagar Ratna restaurant
“We got the booking last night. We told them that we already have a booking for 40 at 12.30pm so we can accommodate the MPs after 2pm, and that the whole restaurant can’t be booked for them. But as the road itself was closed by the police, they were the only customers at the time.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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