Tiwari's entreaties to Goyal that journalists were given a "special invitation" by him fell on deaf ears as the minister insisted that the "purpose" of his address to party leaders at the Delhi BJP's executive committee meeting would be lost in their presence.
Goyal asked media persons to leave the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry auditorium on the second day of the two-day meeting.
He said he was "unaware" that the media was also invited to attend the meeting.
"It's okay if they are leaving," he said.
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Delhi BJP leaders were seen asking journalists to stay back while the minister wanted them to leave.
A Delhi BJP invite sent to media persons yesterday stated that "his (Goyal's) session (is) open to media".
The minister reached an hour late for the "open" session that was scheduled for 1 pm.
Earlier, BJP's national general secretary Anil Jain addressed the party members in the presence of journalists.