Bengaluru: Although more than 300 business leaders, investors and other members of Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) had confirmed their participation in its convention being held in the city in conjunction with the Pravasi Bharat Divas, less than 50 per cent have actually turned up.
GOPIO Global Ambassador Sunny Kulathakal told The Hindu that only 100 of the over 300 participants who had originally booked and confirmed their participation were able to make it.
“We have got emails from several members saying that they would not be able to come because of the government's restrictions. We expected delegates from all over the world. But they have sent emails asking how could they reach the venue of the convention from the airport,” he said.
Pointing out that the issue had been brought to the notice of Union Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar, who inaugurated the event, he said earlier GOPIO President Niraj Baxi had written to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley requesting extending the cut-off date for depositing demonetised notes by six months.
