While there is a reprieve in Saudi Arabia, the Kuwait government’s crackdown has set a flutter among the Indian community there.
While many organisations there said that there have been no specific complaints of deportation of Indians from the region, the situation does seem tense, even though the Indian Ambassador Satish C. Mehta had assured the Indian community (reported by The Hindu on June 17) that the crackdown did not target Indians .
The crackdowns have not started in full, say organisations. “Yes, the Kuwait ministry will [be] deporting illegal residents, but we have not received any complaints yet of deportation,” said Ramesh Kidiyoor, of the Tulu Koota, Kuwait. Similarly, the Kuwait Canara Welfare Association has not reported any deportation within their organisation.
However, a member of the Gulf NRI Forum there, requesting anonymity, said there were now a “lot of restrictions implemented” on expatriates though legal. “Even in the field of medical treatment, regulations are implemented on expatriates… Many (patients) are not given proper treatment due to this,” said the source.
Travel advisory
Panic, however, is writ large on the advisory followed by the Kuwait Kannada Koota and the Indian Dentists' Alliance in Kuwait (IDAK).
The advisory repeatedly asks expatriates to “stay clam” during checking.
“Still it is not time to panic. Generally officials are targeting violators as well as those engaged in illegal activities. Doctors and [Ministry of Health] MoH staff are not targeted intentionally. However there are rare instances of doctors arrested for not having the right identification,” said the IDAK.
Housewives are asked not to venture out alone there”
