Indian embassy in Oman: Businessmen denied access, India protests

According to sources, the meeting was being hosted by the Indian embassy for a high-level Vibrant Gujarat delegation — comprising officials from Gujarat government and private sector representatives — on a visit to Oman from September 3 to 5. The delegation was promoting the Vibrant Gujarat event to be held in January 2017.

Sources said a business-to-business meeting was to be held between the Vibrant Gujarat delegation, Omani business community as well as Indian businessmen in Oman.

However, the Indian and Omani businessmen were stopped at the security checkpoint at the entrance of the diplomatic enclave in Muscat. Although they had an invitation from the Indian ambassador, the security personnel reportedly did not allow them to enter since their names were not listed.

This caused embarrassment to the Indian embassy.

Indian ambassador to Oman, Indra Mani Pandey apologised to the Indian and Omani business community in a letter to them on Monday. “It is with deep anguish and an abiding sense of disappointment that I write to you to apologise for the inconvenience…,” he wrote.

Seeking to address concerns of Indians in Oman, he said they were “keen to preserve the right of every member of the Indian community in Oman to visit the embassy at any time and for any purpose”. He said the issue would be taken up with the Oman government, and requested them to “understand the embassy’s limitations and compulsions”.