Narendra Modi ousted from Wharton address, but Arvind Kejriwal denies role

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has been 'replaced' by Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal as one of the keynote speakers at the 17th Wharton India Economic Forum 2013 to be held on March 23, but the civil society activist has rubbished claims that he has ousted the BJP veteran.

Arvind Kejriwal said he did not believe he was 'replacing anyone' as he had been approached by the organisers to speak at the event much before the Narendra Modi controversy broke.

"It is being reported in some sections of media that I have replaced Mr Narendra Modi for this Wharton lecture. I think this is incorrect because they have been in touch with me for more than 15 to 20 days. And, I understand from the newspapers reports that Mr Modi's cancellation took place one or two days back," he added.

"They have told me that they have invited many people and I am one of them. So, Mr Modi's cancellation has nothing to do with my invitation," he added.

Modi, who secured an electoral hat-trick in Gujarat in December last year, had been selected by students to address the Wharton India Economic Forum via videoconference.

On Monday, an official statement from the Wharton India Economic Forum stated that Modi had been dropped from the list of keynote speakers.

"Our team felt that the potential polarizing reactions from sub-segments of the alumni base student body, and our supporters might put Mr Modi in a compromising position," the forum said in a statement.

The Gujarat Chief Minister, who is being touted by many as the BJP''s Prime Ministerial candidate in 2014, had to face protests in the national capital last month when he arrived for his first public address at Delhi University''s prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC).

ALSO READ

I-T dept detects Rs 7 cr tax evasion in transactions of Nitin Gadkari's Purti group

Govt's pre-fixation with PPP not good for infrastructure: Parliamentary Panel

Railway bribery case: Nephew rose from obscurity, worked behind the scenes

Civil Services Examination, 2012: Delhi student Stuti Charan bags third rank