The decision of the Indian government to ease the coronavirus-linked global travel restrictions imposed on those having OCI cards has given a big relief to many stranded overseas citizens of India across the world.
OCI card is issued to people of Indian origin globally which gives them almost all the privileges of an Indian national except for the right to vote, government service and buying agricultural land. The OCI card gives them a visa-free travel to India.
On Friday, the central government allowed certain categories of OCI card holders, who are stranded abroad, to come to the country. Earlier, according to the regulations issued by the Indian government in April, visas of foreign nationals and OCI cards were suspended as part of the new international travel restrictions following the COVID-19 pandemic.
This privilege of visa free travel to India was causing distress among a large number of people of Indian-origin and Indian citizens in countries like the US whose children were OCI card holders as they were born in this country.
Many Indian parents, several of whom lost their jobs as a result of the economic crisis due to coronavirus pandemic, but were not allowed to take the special evacuation flights of Air India from various US cities, took to social media and urged the Indian leaders to allow them to travel to India.
“This is a big relief for the OCI card holders. It was a humanitarian crisis in the making. I am pleased that the Indian Government listened to their voices,” said social activist Prem Bhandari, chairman of Jaipur Foot USA, who has been taking up the cause of the OCI card holders.
Dr Arathi Krishna, former deputy chairperson of NRI Forum of Karnataka government, who had been demanding this relaxation, many of the thousands of stranded OCI card holders in defferent parts of the world were in pursuading her to exert pressure on the authorities concerned for this much needed relaxation.
The restrictions on traveling of OCI card holders to India was issued by govt of India on March 13 in the wake of global outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.
She said: "Many parents who are Indian nationals could not travel for emergency purpose to India after repatriation flights started due to their minor children being OCI card holders. Many children who were OCI card holders could not travel to India to perform last rites when there was death in their family due to these restrictions"
"I was constantly pressurising and bringing these issues to the attention of ministry officials in External Affairs and Home Affairs departments. I was following up with Mr Dammu Ravi who is heading the COVID task force task firce in the ministry of overseas Indian affairs who took interest in solving this problem through his consistent efforts with MHA. Iam thankful to Fireign Secretary too for his efforts and concern and to MHA for making it easier now for OCI card holders to travel in repatriation flights with emergency reasons," she said.
Comments
Ahmd
What are u teaching vedas to them. they are not following vedas, because they are worshiping Devils.
Ganapathi's father Shiva, Could not recognize his own son Ganapathi, How will he Recognise u.
master plan of MELVIN.. he need post in BJP.. tiz move is very danger to christian community please dont believe MELWIN and RSS ....
OMG...Christian Hindu Bhai Bhai....Hum Saath Saath Hain..Dear Father's And Sister's Dont forget Church attack incident that took place in Mangalore. These are the same people who beat innocent Nuns, Womens and Children. MIND IT.
why don't Chaddis go to churches and masjid..???? why don't they show unity..????. Chaddis wants other religion people to live like their slaves. (vinashakala vipareetha buddi)
This is not communal harmony ....this is an act of cowardness .....
Communal Harmony does not mean worshiping another God or another god of any other religion ...Harmony means give and take respect and love each other. and do respect all religion ....
DOnt misuse Communal Harmony
Guys in movies u have watched khans dancing , praising In front of Hindu Gods....but It doesnt Mean They worship or Believe...its a Part of Movie To entertain.....this Is Also same Its Part to Maintain harmony....plz take Things In different Angles....
Prem ...Jesus never Denied When His Follower Called him God.
VIREN #6
Muslims are NOT ABUSING but telling the TRUTH.
Vedas says NA TASYA PRATImA ASTI which means there is no image of God... it also says God is one ...
Muslims are telling that what VEDAS says is right and we ask U guys to PONDER on Y VEDAS says the following
*NA TASYA PRATIMA ASTI (S upanishad 4:19)
*They enter Darkness those who worship natural things, They sink deeper in DARKNESS those who worship Sambhuti (Created things) - Yajurveda 40.09
*God is one without a secong (Chondogya 6:02 1)
*Of that God there is no image primita (YV 32:3)
* All those whose intelligence has been STOLEN by material desires, they worship many Gods - Bhagwat Gita 7:20
READ to understand ...
Remove your hatred and use your intellect to know the reality of IDOL Worship.
You pray Ganapati and throw him in the sea at the end of the day....pity on you guys....I have seen people take drinks and dance behind it...no God fearing...no honesty....no devotion at all...looking for creating problems around....very bad....
They could have gone and prayed some other temples but not in RSS HQ....shame on them....they are scared of.....Muslims would not do this type of shirks....
Dear Vimala... #7
It is better to obey God (Who says worship him alone) rather than disobeying cheddis who want people to bow down to idols.
U will never recognise the devils trap in worshiping many man made created objects UNLESS U READ the manual from God...
QURAN challenges human being to create a book like that or a verse similar to it.
If U not read, then please read it and use your intellect to know what God says about the CREATION and life of this World... Please
Recognise YOUR CREATOR and worship him alone... it will be better for our life and hereafter.
Here some Zakir Naik Bhakts are trying to preach their religion. I request the moderator to remove the unnecessary out of the topic comments.
You have done a good job by posting a news report that spread the message of unity. But, some readers trying to create communal disturbance.
God Created man with intellectual power which we need to use it.
Stones are created lifeless by God
When we dont use our intelligence, We bow down to lifeless objects instead of God himself.
Its a great injustice done by human being to God..
God created U and U worship the STONES.
People should know who is their CREATOR rather than bowing down to lifeless object which cannot benefit nor harm the intelligent mankind... which blessed with life itself.
if U R TRUTHFUL in searching God ... He will guide u, if u are HONEST.
Dont fall trap to LIARS and AGGRESSORS of our Society.. God's help comes when we stand with the TRUTH....
Ok Ok.. I fully agree that these are peace loving people. By the way where were they when true Indians were fighting for the freedom of the nation? Both of them were with ......?
This is the spirit of truth. It attracts people of all faiths. Hats off the Christian nuns and fathers for their open minded gesture. Muslims should learn from Christians how to live in a multi cultural society.
As rightly pointed out by V Nagraj ji, these nuns and priests have proved their honesty. Can the peace loving Hindu community expect same gesture from one umma gang? Or they will continue to abuse all Hindu gods as per the teaching of their scripture ?
I think they did not woship Ganapati. They just offered a saree and took prasadam. Actual worship takes place in the heart and it cannot be seen by anyone. This is just a harmony visit.
If God cannot recognise his own son... Then how will he recognise his creation ....
If God cannot replace his son's head , Then how can we depend on him for our blessings.
Something is wrong.. either cheddis are against NA TASYA PRATIMA ASTI or those who worship idols are ignorant about God...
Please search for TRUTH.. God guides those who are HONEST from their heart..
No need to Fear cheddis and sell your souls to cheddis..
Worship the Creator and not his creation...
Jesus never said worship me but the father.... (God).
Na Tasya Pratima Asti - There is no image of God.. (What U worship in the form of idol cannot be god as per Vedas)
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