Bangalore: Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) president Ashok Soota on April 4 suggested that India take up at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) the issue of "protectionism" on natural movement of professionals on work in some countries by their governments.

Soota told reporters that Sweden has promised support to India if New Delhi took such an initiative.

His comment came when asked about the recent arrest in London of a senior official of the Indian company I-Flex on alleged Visa violations.

Soota strongly denied that Indian IT companies were violating Visa regulations. "Indian industry is aware of the rules. There may be one or two exceptions," he said.

Also chief of software major MindTree Consulting, he asserted that Indian IT industry is a highly ethical one and there has been no "broad-scale" Visa violations by it.

However, he said Indian companies operating abroad needed to be cautious as they should address concerns of those countries on "losing jobs".

PTI