Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi Thursday cancelled his visit to the United Arab Emigrates (UAE) due to an extension of the ongoing budget session of parliament.
"The prime minister (Manmohan Singh) asked me to be in the capital as my ministry has to table papers in the Lok Sabha. He said I have to be present in parliament Friday and Saturday," Ravi told IANS, explaining the reason for calling off his visit.
Ravi, who was appointed minister for Indian overseas affairs in January, was to leave for a three-day visit to Dubai and Abu Dhabi Thursday.
He will, however, attend a three-day conference of Indian envoys in the Middle East beginning Sunday at Doha. The ambassadors to at least 12 countries, including those of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Syria, Yemen, Libya and Palestine will attend the meeting.
The current session of parliament, earlier scheduled to end Friday, was last week extended to March 22.
Ravi, who is making his first visit abroad since becoming a minister, said the conference of Indian ambassadors will discuss issues related to non-resident Indians, including fake recruitment agencies, smuggling of maids below the stipulated age of 30, ill-treatment of Indian workers and measures to protect Indian maids.
Former external affairs minister Natwar Singh had chaired a meeting of Indian ambassadors at Dubai in December 2004 to discuss issues pertaining to the region and the country's assets and interests there.
{{/usCountry}}Former external affairs minister Natwar Singh had chaired a meeting of Indian ambassadors at Dubai in December 2004 to discuss issues pertaining to the region and the country's assets and interests there.
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