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The envoys from the Arab League, Algeria, Iraq and the Palestine had on May 19 attended a function in Hyderabad in which some political leaders were also present to express solidarity with the people of Palestine.
"While the stated purpose of this event was to express solidarity with the people of Palestine which, Government of India wholeheartedly shares and supports, but matters in the domestic and foreign policy domain of India were also discussed and a resolution passed," an external affairs ministry spokesperson said.
She was asked whether the government had apologised after the envoys reportedly protested against an explanation being sought for their participation.
"We are surprised to see what has appeared (in a newspaper), which claimed that the external affairs ministry has tendered an apology," she said.
The spokesperson said the MEA had called the envoys on May 21 to discuss their participation in the Hyderabad event.
It was conveyed to them that "while India always allowed widest possible access to foreign ambassadors, it expected them to adhere to normally accepted diplomatic practices and norms".
The ambassadors were seated on the dais during the adoption of the resolution, which said that India should snap ties with Israel. It had also likened the violence against Palestinians with the Gujarat carnage.
Denying that this was a 'demarche', the spokesperson said the government was within its legitimate right to convey its point of view in a candid and forthright manner.
The envoys were understood to have conveyed that they had not violated diplomatic practices and they were not a party to the resolution or the proceedings.
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