The long wait has ended with a terse reply from the PMO that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not be able to attend the international cooperative function which is being hosted by the apex cooperative body NCUI in Delhi in November.
Those overseeing the preparations for the mega cooperative event have heaved a sigh of relief. “The uncertainty was affecting us in that our preparations were a half-hearted effort. PM’s yes would have meant arranging for space in Vigyan Bhawan and a host of other things associated with it”, said one of them on condition of anonymity.
This was what NCUI President told Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh a fortnight ago when he met the latter at his residence. He wanted the decision by PM to be taken sooner rather than later. “Invitations have to be sent to foreign countries and we are racing against time”, said Yadav to Indian Cooperative.
Meanwhile, sources say besides Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh, the Vice-President of India Mr Hamid Ansari is being approached to grace the occasion. One of them would inaugurate while the other would be the chief guest in the valedictory function, they added.
Clarity on the prime minister’s participation was crucial for us, said another cooperator supervising the preparations. Now all the functions would be held in Ashoka Hotel where four conference halls have already been reserved. Delegates are being put up in both Ashoka and Hotel Janapath, said Ritesh Dey-the point person in NCUI for the function.
It is basically an ICA A-P function and we are merely playing the host. ICA AP is preparing all the written materials to be distributed among delegates, informed NCUI Chief Executive N Satyanarayan.
Readers would note that NCUI is holding the international event- AGM of International Cooperative Alliance (Asia-Pacific) in 2016. The General Assembly of ICA (A-P) scheduled later this year in N Delhi would be a conference with a difference, claims NCUI President Chandra Pal Singh Yadav.
In fact, it would prove to be the template for all future conferences, said NCUI President Chandra Pal Singh Yadav
‘We would showcase India, I mean its tradition of hospitality. Staying at a five-star hotel and getting a mechanical welcome from the hotel staff is not what we want to offer our foreign guests. We want them to experience our profound warmth and hospitality. And so by contrast, we will show them our culture of humanized hospitality through celebrating every nano second of their stay ” said Chandra Pal explaining his idea of playing the host.