Obama party crashers claim Indian ambassador is patron of their Polo match

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Facebook Photo being used by Salahi to boast about invite.

By Salim Jiwa

VANCOUVER, B.C. – State dinner party crashers Tareq Salahi and his wife Michaele claim on their Polo club website that they have the endorsement of India’s ambassador to Washington.

The Salahi’s are gloating on Facebook about how they were invited to a high-security state dinner held by U.S. President Barack Obama and his guest Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

But on a website where the Salahi’s proclaim they are founders of the Landrover America’s Polo Cup contest between Indian and the U.S. in 2010, the two state their patron is the Indian ambassador to the U.S.

“Honorary Patron: Her Excellency, Madame Ambassador Meera Shankar,” is named as the patron of the Polo Cup.

Shankar was present at the State Dinner but it is not clear if she met with the two who mingled extensively with guests including vice-president Joe Biden whose picture they have plastered on Facebook.

Shankar also received Dr. Singh and his wife upon their arrival in Washington.

Meera Shankar - Patron to Salahi's Polo Cup.

The Indian Embassy could not be reached for comment about how well the Indian ambassador knows the Salahis.

The party crash has proven to be a major embarrassment for the United States Secret Service which has accepted blame for the goof.

Michaele Salahi has picked up nearly 10,000 fans on her Facebook page.

“Honored to have attended the state dinner at the White House in honor of India with President Obama and our First Lady. INDIA & the USA will challenege each other for the first time on the DC National Mall in June 2010 in what will be another proud and historic moment. XO MICHAELE,” she says.

An earlier post said: “I was honored to be invited to attend the First State Dinner hosted by President Obama & the First Lady to honor India. In June 2010, the America’s Polo Cup will be between INDIA & the UNITED STATES. Please join me in this cultural celebration of politics, diplomacy, fashion, sports, entertainment & family fun.”

In another note on her Facebook page she invites companies to seek her endorsements. “NOTICE: This site and notes will be used by Media & TV in Perpetuity throughout the world.”