Poor coordination between the Ministries of External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs has added to the woes faced by the Indians apprehended in Kuwait for visa violation.
Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, who was kept in the dark about the developments in Kuwait, was reportedly irked that the External Affairs Ministry had bypassed him, prompting him to take it up with those concerned. Sources close to the Minister said he should have been kept posted on the developments affecting the welfare of Indian expatriates.
Sources said though the Indian Embassy officials in Kuwait did a good job in identifying the arrested Indians and extending support, much of the confusion could have been avoided had the Indian Ambassador, Satish C. Mehta, been present in that country. Mr. Mehta had stayed back in New Delhi after a high-level conference of Indian envoys in the Gulf, sources said. If he was present in Kuwait, he could have liaised with Kuwait to get the exact information about the Indians arrested. The Union Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs is examining the possibilities of deploying special flights to ferry the stranded expatriates, sources said.
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Minister for Non-resident Keralites’ Affairs K.C. Joseph got in touch with Union Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed, and expressed the State’s concern about the Kuwait action. Mr. Joseph said he had discussed the issue with Mr. Ravi, who promised steps to protect the interests of Keralites.