This is with reference to the item in The Indian Express,Page 3,today. (Delhi Confidential; Sibling Revelations) I confirm that a meeting between US Congressman Joe Crawley and Mr Rahul Gandhi was arranged by me in the course of my official duties on behalf of CII as head,public policy,from 2003 to 10. The meeting was essentially a courtesy call made by Congressman Crawley,co-Chairman of the India Caucus in the US Congress. The discussions during the visit were confined to the general economic and political situation of the country and some important international issues. Nobody else was present during the meeting and,at no stage was there any reference with either the Congressman or any US embassy official regarding my alleged closeness to the Gandhi family. Nor did I make any remarks whatsoever about Mr Rahul Gandhi or his sister Priyanka. The references to me in your report are completely baseless and I deny them in totality. I have separately reiterated this to Wikileaks and the US Embassy. Had you asked me before publishing the report,I would have clarified this to you; in any event,I request you to publish my letter by way of clarification.
Vikram Badshah
The Indian Express replies: The item merely reports whats mentioned in the US cable leaked by Wikileaks. (http://wikileaks.org/cable/2006/02/06NEWDELHI1415.html). The cable,prepared by Crowley,contains his views on the conversation with both Rahul Gandhi and Vikram Badshah.