Probe on as police, hotel deny keeping northeast staff away during Xi Jinping’s visit

New Delhi: Hours after the Union Home Ministry ordered a probe into reports that employees of an Ahmedabad hotel from the northeast were asked to stay away from duty during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent visit, the city police and hotel management have denied issuing any such instruction.

“I am not aware of any such diktat given by police to the hotel authorities about their staff. We were just concerned about the Tibetans,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) A.K. Sharma.

Vikas Sahay, JCP, Special Branch, too said he was not aware of any such order having been issued.

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The management of hotel Hyatt Ahmedabad expressed surprise over the reports and claimed all staffers, including those from the northeast, did duty on September 17 when Mr. Xi had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi there.

“There was no such order given to the hotel staff on that day. All staff, including those from the northeast, was present in the hotel and doing duty when Chinese President arrived. I am surprised as to how such baseless reports are doing the rounds,” said Marketing Manager of Hyatt Ahmedabad Ayesha Mishra.

Earlier, the Home Ministry had asked the Intelligence Bureau to ascertain the veracity of reports about the order and, if it was indeed issued, who did it and why.