CM skips receiving Brit PM
Maharashtra protocol minister Suresh Shetty received British Prime Minister David Cameron at the Mumbai International Airport on Monday. Interestingly, though chief minister Prithviraj Chavan was in Mumbai, he did not visit the airport to receive Mr Cameron. State government officials informed that the CM did not visit the airport because he was “not advised” by the ministry of external affairs to do so.
In what can be described as an odd development, only the protocol minister, chief protocol officer, and director general of police Sanjeev Dayal received Mr Cameron in Mumbai.
However, state officials brushed aside such suggestions, with the public relations office of the chief minister saying, “The chief minister is not necessarily required to receive foreign delegates. The chief minister was very much in town, but was committed to other engagements. Moreover, a meeting was scheduled between the chief minister and Mr Cameron at Trident Hotel on Monday evening.”
However, when the American President Barack Obama had visited Mumbai in 2010, he was received by the then chief minister of Maharashtra Ashok Chavan, protocol minister Suresh Shetty and Salman Khursheed, who was then Union minister for minority affairs.
Explaining the protocol followed in such events, Mr Shetty said, “It is not something that the state takes a call on. The ministry of external affairs in Delhi decides who would receive a certain guest. The chief minister can choose to be present if the Centre advises him. So, as per the directives from the ministry and in the capacity of protocol minister, I received Mr Cameron in Mumbai.”
Mr Cameron is visiting India for the second time since he assumed office of the British PM in May 2010. Mr Cameron had
visited India in July 2010, and had begun his
two-day visit from Bengaluru. This time, however, Mr Cameron begun his three-day India tour from Mumbai.
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Proud that Tata makes JLR, says Cameron
Mumbai, Feb. 18: British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday said that he is proud of the fact that an Indian company like Tata Motors “was taking the world by storm” by manufacturing Jaguar and Land Rover.
He made this remark, while asserting that Britain is one of the most open and welcoming economies. Addressing the staff of Hindustan Unilever (HUL) at the company’s headquarters, Mr Cameron said, “Britain is an open economy and we encourage investments...We should be having a conversation…with the Indian Government about opening up the Indian economy. There are still many rules and regulations in the Indian economy associated with how you do things, which we think if you change will make your economy grow faster, deliver more
jobs, more wealth and more prosperity across your country,” he said, adding, “We should look at the things we need to do to take our barriers down and we hope that your government will do the same.” he said. — PTI
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