Commenting on the reported invitation of Maoist chairman Prachanda by Hindustan Times to attend its Leadership Summit later this month, spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs has said the government was not involved with a plan to invite Prachanda.

“We have conveyed to the government of Nepal that the government of India has no role in the organizing of this summit and that this is a private event,” spokesperson Navtej Sarna told reporters in New Delhi on Monday when asked whether the Indian government had any objections to Prachanda’s likely visit here.

Prachanda has been invited by The Hindustan Times Group to speak at its annual summit to be held this year on November 17-18. Other speakers at the summit include Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Afghan president Hamid Karzai, former prime minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohammad and film-maker Karan Johar, among others.

Meanwhile, in Kathmandu, Maoist leaders have said Prachanda will travel to New Delhi along with his deputy Dr. Baburam Bhattarai to attend the summit. The Maoists of Nepal were earlier termed terrorists by the Indian government and some of the Maoist leaders are still languishing in Indian jails.