Vice-prez poll: UPA lunch has Muslim MPs in a bind

A high-profile lunch for UPA MPs next Monday, ahead of the vice-presidential elections, has caught Muslim MPs in a bind, wondering if they could skip the lunch without sending a wrong signal. Aurangzeb Naqshbandi reports.

A high-profile lunch for UPA MPs next Monday, ahead of the vice-presidential elections, has caught Muslim MPs in a bind, wondering if they could skip the lunch without sending a wrong signal.

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Muslim MPs said it would be awkward for them to be part of a luncheon meeting in the middle of holy month of Ramzan when most of them would be fasting.

"I haven't decided if I will attend the lunch as I am fasting these days," said a Muslim MP from the National Conference.

Another MP indicated he was inclined to skip the event as it would not be appropriate to go for a lunch when others from the community were fasting.

The lunch has been hosted by the Congress on the eve of the August 8 polls that is widely expected to see Hamid Ansari win a second term at the Vice-President's office.

The opposition has fielded BJP veteran Jaswant Singh against Ansari.

Also on the guest list are MPs from supporting parties such as the SP and BSP.

A Muslim MP from Uttar Pradesh said he would discuss the issue with other colleagues lest his absence from the event be misconstrued.

A similar "power lunch" was organised by Congress president Sonia Gandhi in her capacity as the UPA chairperson at Ashoka hotel ahead of last month's presidential election.