Founded: March 15 2002
Last updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2002

Two Different Invitations issued in one day for Foundation Stone Ceremony at Airport
Gaya, 1 April. The Indian Airports Authority has issued two different invitations in the space of 24 hours for the Foundation stone ceremony for the new terminal, technical block and fire station at Gaya airport. In the space of 24 hours some changes are apparent in the invitations. The name of the Chief Minister [of Bihar] Rabri Devi has disappeared whilst the names of the State President of the BJP, Kailashpati Mishra and Central State Minister Ravishankar Prasad have appeared on the invitation.
It is notable that in the previous invitation issued by the authority chairman S.K. Narula the chief guest was to be Chief Minister Rabri Devi and the special guest was the tourism minister Jagmohan, but within 24 hours Mr S.K. Narula has issued a second invitation in which the names of the Chief Minister and Tourism Minister do not appear. Instead the names of State President of the BJP, Kailashpati Mishra and Central State Minister Ravishankar Prasad have appeared on the invitation.
Due to the changes in the names several strands of discussion have gone on in political circles. These draw connections between last years Buddhist Festival in Bodhgaya and tomorrow's ceremony for the airport. Not a single representative of the Central Government RAJG [i.e. the BJP government:-PGF] coalition took part in the festival. Several members of the RAJG accused the festival of being a festival of the RAJD [i.e. Lalu Prasad's party, the Bihar State Government which the central government is opposed to:-PGF].
However, several members of the state government have agreed to take part in tomorrow's function including the energy Minister Shakeel Ahmad Khan, the State Minister Surendra Yadav and several MLAs. [Members of the state legislature, akin to Australian Senators:-PGF]

Texts and Translations © Peter G. Friedlander unless otherwise indicated.