Dubai: The Indian embassy in Doha has issued a statement clarifying its position on the death of Indian citizens in the country after Qatar alleged that there was a “vested interest lobby” out to tarnish its image ahead of the World Cup in 2022.

In an apparent move to control the damage resulting from India’s recent revelation that more than 450 Indians had died in the country in two years, the Indian embassy in Doha issued a press release on Wednesday, stressing the country’s “close and friendly” relations with Qatar, and adding that the number of Indian deaths in the country was “quite normal”.

The controversy arose when, in response to on a Right to Information request from AFP, The Indian embassy in Qatar gave figures detailing the number of deaths in 2012 and the first 11 months of 2013.

The embassy, however, did not explain the circumstances of those deaths. It also declined to hand over any correspondence between the embassy and the Indian government regarding the treatment of its nationals.

It revealed that on average about 20 Indians died per month, peaking at 27 in August last year. There were 237 fatalities in 2012 and another 218 in 2013 up to December 5.

The report came as Qatar was brought under the spotlight ahead of the World Cup in eight years for the treatment of workers in projects related to the games. The publicity surrounding the death of Asian workers had Qatar promising to review its labour policies.

In response, Ali Bin Sumaikh Al Marri, the head of the National Human Rights Committee, which is close to the government, said that the reported death rate was “normal” given the size of the community. But he also lashed out on a “vested interest lobby” that he said was behind the sustained media campaign against Qatar, as per Qatari media.

The Indian embassy on Wednesday echoed the statement on the deaths: “ ... Considering the large size of our community, the number of deaths is quite normal — 233 in 2010, 239 in 2011, 237 in 2012, 241 in 2013 and 37 in 2014. Most of the deaths are by natural causes”.

The embassy also appeared to criticise the media hype surrounding the figures, saying that it was “inappropriate to use these figures in a distorted manner”.

“[The] Government of Qatar continues to take several measures to further improve the living and working conditions of workers, and for further strengthening administrative, legal and other mechanisms to safeguard workers’ interests ... We appreciate these measures being taken by Qatari authorities”.

Indians make up the largest expatriate community in Qatar, said to number between 500,000 and 600,000. Al Marri said there are twice as many Indians in the country than Qataris.