Indian population swells to 4.2 lakh in Qatar

Dubai, Aug 9: The Indian expatriate population in Qatar has soared to a staggering four lakh twenty thousand, more than double the number of local people, according to a Qatari minister.

The figure as of July 31 was revealed by Minister of State for Interior Affairs and Cabinet member Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani on August 6 when he received India's Ambassador Dr George Joseph. The minister joked that the number would have gone up further since that date and pointed out that though Indians constituted the largest expatriate community they gave the least problems to the state.

The minister's statement was significant as many Gulf governments are denying visas to Bangladeshis, citing increasing crime and violence by the members of that community.

Dr George Joseph was making a courtesy call before the end of his tenure. He has been named ambassador to Lebanon and will be replaced by Deepa Gopalan currently ambassador to Sweden.

UNI