Wednesday, June 15 2005 19:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today (Jun 15, 2005) sought to find faults with External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh accompanying Congress president Sonia Gandhi on her visit to Russia, saying it was "diplomatically wrong."

Singh, instead of going with Gandhi, should have attended the ongoing G-77 meet in Doha where India was "not being represented at an appropriate level," BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar told reporters.

He asked the Government to clarify whether Gandhi had gone to Russia in the capacity of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson, Congress president or chairperson of National Advisory Council (NAC).

He also asked whether her visit was official or personal.

"In both cases, the External Affairs Minister's accompanying her is wrong diplomatically. It sends out a wrong message," Javadekar said.

Noting that G-77 was an important event attended by heads of Governments or senior Ministers, the BJP spokesman said with Singh away with Gandhi, India is being represented at the meet by Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed.

"Congress should not put the party above the country," he said.