TNN, Nov 16, 2010,
NEW DELHI: Rashtrapati Bhawan reiterated its denial regarding reports that one of its officials asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to shift his seat to accommodate the President's spouse during the Commonwealth Games' opening ceremony.
The President's Secretariat has said "no" in response to an RTI application seeking to know if it was true "that the original agreed seating arrangement during the opening ceremony of CWG 2010 was changed at the last moment at the behest of staff of honourable President of India to accommodate Devisingh Shekhawat against protocol?"
It also denied the query that Shekhawat was accommodated in the royal box during the opening ceremony of CWG against protocol or agreed seating arrangement.
According to the office, it has "seen" the media reports which said a senior official of the President's Secretariat tapped the PM to shift to the next seat in order to accommodate Shekhawat beside the President. The RTI application was filed by activist S C Agrawal. After media reports appeared, sources in the PMO had confirmed that displeasure over the issue was conveyed to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, but the President's Secretariat refuted receiving any such communication.
The incident took place on October 3 during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games when President's secretary Christy Fernandez allegedly tapped Singh on his shoulder and asked him to change his seat from the one earmarked under protocol for him next to the President.
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