Telangana urges KSA to open consulate in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD — The government of the newly formed south Indian state of Telangana has urged the government of Saudi Arabia to open a consulate in the historic city. Chief minister K. Chandrasekahar Rao made the request at a meeting with Ambassador of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to India Saud Al-Sati recently. The Saudi ambassador, who had called on the chief minister, responded that his country was also of the opinion that opening a consulate in the city would be a good idea, according to a news release from the chief minister’s office. Chandrasekhar Rao during the discussions with Alsati told the latter that about three hundred thousand people from Telangana were currently living and working in Saudi Arabia, and with such a large number of people traveling between the two countries, a consulate in the city would be of great assistance. Al-Sati, who was on an official visit to Hyderabad, attended a number of events organized by the state government. The Saudi ambassador on his first day of the visit offered Friday prayers in the historic Masjid of Hyderabad called “Makkah Masjid”. Deputy chief minister of Telangana Mohammed Mehmood Ali and his colleagues welcomed Al-Sati in a traditional way. The Saudi ambassador was also felicitated by Masjid Committee and members of the ruling party. Al-Sati also visited Osmania University and interacted with Saudi students studying in the university. He met registrar of the university Prof. E. Suresh Kumar and called for strengthening of cultural ties between the government of Saudi Arabia and Osmania University. He said a significant number of Saudi students are pursuing their education in the university. During the meeting with the chief minister, Al-Sati also expressed his country’s intent to paly a role in the development of the state. The ambassador said that Saudi Arabia is keen to invest in Telangana state in various sectors. The chief minister sought the envoy’s intervention in ensuring a smoother and easier process to bring back to the state the bodies of people who pass away in that country. — SG