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US
consul-general apologises to Chavan, Bhujbal
Friday November 05, 2010 05:10:55 PM,
IANS
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Mumbai:
A mild threat of Maharashtra's top politicians to boycott US
President Barack Obama's functions on being asked to produce
identification papers forced the US government to apologise
Friday.
"I have visited Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and Deputy Chief
Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and personally apologised. It was just a
clerical error," US Consul-General in Mumbai Paul A. Folmsbee
said.
The controversy erupted earlier this week after the US consulate
in Mumbai sought identification papers from Maharashtra's top
dignitaries in order to attend various events to be graced by
President Obama over the next couple of days.
Feeling slighted by the demand for details like birth date,
nationality, passport number, PAN card, etc, the state's leaders
hinted that they may not be in a position to attend the
president's functions, a Mantralaya official said.
"However, now that the US authorities have apologised, the matter
has been resolved," the official told IANS here Friday.
The state officials were taken aback by the US consulate's
conditions that the dignitaries like the chief minister and his
deputy, and others would have to produce their identity cards.
"President Barack Obama will make a brief statement to commemorate
the tragic attacks on November 26, 2008, respect the victims.
Kindly attend the event. For security reasons, bring this letter,
along with a photo identify card, RSVP to protocol advisor," said
the invitation letter sent out on behalf of Folmsbee.
The consulate also asked Chavan and the other prominent invitees
from the state government to fill up a form with other details and
submit it to the consulate by Nov 2.
However, the diplomatic gaffe has been treated as a "clerical
error" and it is expected that all the state VVIPs would rub
shoulders with the visiting US President Saturday and Sunday.
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