SA: Statement by Haranath Ghosh, Gupta wedding spokesperson, on Gupta wedding guests arrival (30/04/2013)

30th April 2013

It is indeed sad that 702 has chosen to misrepresent easily checkable facts without consideration of the damage it is doing to the Gupta family at a time it wants to celebrate a very important wedding. Waterkloof Air Force base was used with full permission of the authorities to receive foreign dignitaries including some ministers.

It is a conventional and common practice between countries in receiving officials from another state. Waterkloof was used as Lanseria airport could not accommodate the size of jet chartered by the family.   The permissions were applied for and granted to the Indian High Commission and not the family. These rights can be applied for by any foreign embassy. Naturally suitable protocol was used to receive and transport the foreign ministers to the wedding.
 
All arrangements were done transparently and a simple call to the authorities by 702 would have clarified this.