Ram Madhav questions VP Hamid Ansari's absence at Yoga Day, later apologises

Last Updated: Sunday, June 21, 2015 – 22:28

New Delhi: BJP general secretary Ram Madhav on Sunday stoked a controversy by questioning Vice President Hamid Ansari's absence at the Yoga Day event in the capital but later apologised after he was criticised on the social media platform.

Madhav, a prominent RSS leader, also accused Rajya Sabha TV, the public service broadcaster run by Parliament's Upper House, of blacking out the Yoga Day event "completely" despite being run on taxpayers money. As Rajya Sabha Chairman, Ansari is the controlling authority for the channel.

In his first tweet, Madhav said, "Two questions. Did RS TV dat runs on tax payers money completely black out Yoga Day event? While President participated d VP gave a miss (sic)."

The BJP leader's allegation against RS TV was immediately countered by others, who tweeted screen shots of the channel's coverage of the yoga events.

Madhav later apologised in another. "I am informed dat d VP was unwell. I withdrew my tweet. My apologies because d institution of VP deserves respect (sic)," he said in another tweet. As the topic trended, he subsequently deleted both the tweets.

Some pro-BJP commentators complained on Twitter that RS TV, which is funded by the taxpayer, had not shown live the yoga mega event at Rajpath.

Social media attacked Madhav with some dubbing his criticism of the Vice President as 'shameful and embarrassing", that he was doing "foot in the mouth asan" and that he can destroy the divinity of yoga in the name of religious fundamentalism.

Madhav also drew flak for making an issue of Ansari's absence when participation in Yoga Day events was meant to be voluntary.http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/ram-madhav-questions-vp-hamid-ansaris-absence-at-yoga-day-later-apologises_1617617.html

Was Not Invited To Yoga Day Event, Says Vice President Hamid Ansari

Vice President Hamid Ansari's office said on Sunday that he was not invited to the Yoga Day event in the capital after his absence was questioned by senior BJP and RSS leader Ram Madhav.

Earlier stoking a controversy BJP general secretary Ram Madhav questioned Vice President Hamid
Ansari's absence at the Yoga Day event in the capital but later apologised and deleted the tweet after he was criticised on the social media platform.

Vice President Hamid Ansari's office immediately reacted to Madhav's remarks and said that the facts put by Madhav on VP's illness is totally 'incorrect'.

"Vice President was not sick. He was never invited for the yoga programme," it said, adding, "the Vice President only attends those programmes in which the Minister concerned invites him as per protocol".

Madhav also accused Rajya Sabha TV, the public service broadcaster run by Parliaments Upper House, of blacking out live telecast of the Yoga Day event "completely" despite being run on taxpayers money. As Rajya Sabha Chairman, Ansari is the controlling authority for the channel.

This was contradicted by Gurdeep Singh Sappal, CEO of Rajya Sabha TV. "Baseless rumours. RSTV not just did live telecast of Rajpath event. But also had 3 documentaries, 1 special report today on Yoga", he tweeted.

Vice President Hamid Ansari's office said on Sunday night that he was not invited to the Yoga Day event in the capital after his absence was questioned by senior BJP and RSS leader Ram Madhav.

Mr. Madhav had deleted a tweet questioning Mr. Ansari's absence and then apologising to him saying he later learnt that the Vice President was unwell.

The Vice President's office said that was not correct.

"Vice President was not sick. He was never invited for the yoga programme," it said, adding, "the Vice President only attends those programmes in which the Minister concerned invites him as per protocol."

Mr. Madhav also accused Rajya Sabha TV, the public service broadcaster run by Parliament's Upper House, of blacking out live telecast of the Yoga Day event "completely" despite being run on taxpayers money. As Rajya Sabha Chairman, Mr. Ansari is the controlling authority for the channel.

This was contradicted by Gurdeep Singh Sappal, CEO of Rajya Sabha TV. "Baseless rumours. RSTV not just did live telecast of Rajpath event. But also had 3 documentaries, 1 special report today on Yoga", he tweeted.

As the topic trended, Mr. Madhav deleted both the tweets including his apology.

http://focusnews.com/india/was-not-invited-to-yoga-day-event-says-vice-president-hamid-ansari/61641/