Even as external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj told Parliament on Thursday that the crisis related to joblessness of hundreds of Indians in Saudi Arabia has been resolved “satisfactorily” and that th
Even as external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj told Parliament on Thursday that the crisis related to joblessness of hundreds of Indians in Saudi Arabia has been resolved “satisfactorily” and that the Saudi King had accepted India’s requests and had instructed officials to address the issue in two days, the Modi government sent out a strong signal to minorities at a time when there is unrest in Kashmir, with minister of state (MoS) for external affairs Gen. V.K. Singh (Retd) visiting the holy city of Medina to greet the first batch of Indian Haj pilgrims.
Gen. Singh (Retd) is currently in Saudi Arabia to discuss the problems of the Indian workers there and had visited Jeddah and capital Riyadh earlier on Wednesday. “An opportunity to receive participants in a sacred pilgrimage. MoS arrives in Medina to greet first batch of Indian Hajis,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
Meanwhile, in suo motu statements in both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, Ms Swaraj said the Saudi government will give exit visas to the stranded Indians, provide free medical facility and food to the workers living in camps and allow those eligible to seek re-employment with other companies. Speaking on Thursday about the progress, she said the Saudi government has not only agreed to giving them exit visas, as sought by India, but also offered to transport them to India at its expense. “Government of India will not have to spend a penny on that,” she said.
“I am happy to inform the House that the Saudi ruler has taken note of the plight of Indian workers... the Saudi King has instructed his officials to resolve the issue in two days,” she said. “The matter has been satisfactorily resolved,” she said and thanked the Saudi King and his government for it.
Ms Swaraj credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts in building strong personal ties with the Saudi King and also between the two countries during his recent visit to the Islamic nation for the outcome.
She said the MoS in the MEA Gen. (retd.) V.K. Singh, who has been camping there since Tuesday evening, will return after formalising the arrangements for the Indian workers.
