DHAKA, Feb 3: The ruling alliance has accused the opposition Awami League of influencing New Delhi to foil the 13th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in Dhaka.

The alliance also observed that India had 'unilaterally' decided not to join the summit and given a 'lame excuse'. Leaders of the alliance decided, at a meeting on Thursday, to hold rallies across the country on Feb 7 to protest against strikes, violence and conspiracy by 'quarters with vested interests'.

"The Awami League is to be blamed for the postponement of the Saarc summit as it somehow convinced India not to join the summit," said the ruling BNP's Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan on Thursday. "The Awami League made various denunciatory statements and contacted Indian politicians to stall the summit," he alleged.