The Indian government has advised expats in the UAE and the Gulf against travel till flight curbs to their home country are lifted. This follows the clamour from some quarters for special repatriation flights to India.
A senior Indian External Affairs Ministry (foreign ministry) official said Indian citizens are safe in the countries they reside in. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken to leaders of Gulf countries who assured him of their welfare, the Indian foreign ministry said. Meanwhile, the Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan,, according to a Malayalam news report, also ruled out special flights.
Responding to a question from Khaleej Times on blue-collar workers' angst following job losses, Vikas Swarup, Secretary West in the foreign ministry said, "Insofar as repatriation is concerned, as you are aware, government has advised against all travel, and Indians have been told to stay where they are, As and when the (21-day) lockdown is lifted, and normal civil aviation resumes, Indians wishing to come back will be able to do so."
According to the latest data from the Indian foreign affairs ministry, there are 1,400 cases of Covid-19 infections among Indian expats in the Gulf region.
Swarup said infected Indians are being treated and kept in isolation in the UAE and Gulf. "Our missions have established contact with all the community leaders and the situation is under control," he said.
Cargo flights operating as usual
Cargo flights carrying fruits and vegetables from India to the Gulf have not been disrupted and would continue as usual, the diplomat said. "We are also helping with medicines based on the requests of Gulf countries," he said.
Eight million India expats live in the Gulf, including close to three million in the UAE. They account for more than 60 per cent of remittances to their home country.
India's long lockdown of 21 says ends next Tuesday. Indications are that it could be extended. Some states like Orissa have already stretched it till the end of the month and others are expected to follow suit.
The government believes that the disease is now concentrated in 75 districts, and the focus should be on these areas to manage and contain the virus.
Comments
Some cases people do not know how pakistan flag looks and Islamic flag ... just see green colour and assume pakistan flag... last time SRS member hosted pakistan flag not islamic one..
pakistani flag nowhere near to islamic flag. Green is not islamic flag
What a comment from Master Blaster Ganeshanna are you Citizen of Hindustan? A flag issue you are sending a Indian Citizen to pakistan is it Fair.. YOU biggest buffoon's doing to our Great Hindustan !!!!!!
What you thought about Hindustan, we are proud ourselves like Peanut we do not care Anna, Gangasara makes things very difficult!!!!!!
Jai Hoo Hindustan.
By the way where we can send this Rama Sene for hoisting pakistan flag? Please suggest a country @ Truth Mangalore, Ganesh, Unknown.. Please suggest them a country too,
Many readers here are suggest to arrest the youth and kick him out to Pakistan for hoisting Pak flag (not yet confirmed). However, they are hiding to tell the truth about hoisting Pak flag by SRS terrorists. Instead of asking the culprits to punish, they had supported these goondas. This was done only to blame minorities. In the particular case also i doubt that it was fabricated by sangh parivar. This should be investigated and the person should be punished in case he really hoisted pak flag. However, please make is clear that he is not mentally sick.
enquire about the person who is behind and put him behind the bars....what about the pakistani flag hosted by sri rama sene member before ?????????????? where we need to send him.
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