Maharashtra CM Chavan to receive Barack Obama

CNN IBN

Mumbai, 06 November 2010: Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan along with Protocol Minister Suresh Shetty and Union Corporate and Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khursheed will receive US President Barack Obama at the Mumbai airport on Saturday afternoon. But Chavan said he was not sure whether he would be attending the function at Taj Hotel or not.

 

"I will be receiving Obama at the airport. Will have a look at the invitation and then decide about attending the Taj event," Chavan said just a day after reports that he might boycott Obama event at the Taj Hotel after being asked for ID proofs and other personal details.

 

 

 

Chavan and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister along with senior state officials were miffed as the US Consul General Paul Folmsbee had asked them their identity cards before entering the venue. The US consulate had demanded personal details like date of birth, nationality, passport number and even PAN details.

 

The US Consul General Paul Folmsbee latter called the demand for identity cards and other details a "clerical error". "I have visited the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister (of Maharashtra) and personally apologised to them. It was a clerical error," said the US Consul General.