Government's unjustifiable apathy towards Non Resident Kannadigas in Saudi Arabia
“Non-resident Indians” (NRIs) in a broad sense are those who give light to others by getting burnt in the process. When unemployment was raging at home, these NRIs sought work in Gulf countries in scorching weather conditions, and provided relief to people and towns they had left behind. The country has always been very appreciative of the contributions of the NRIs. During their visits abroad, all the Prime Ministers of our country have held special meetings with NRIs and thanked them for their contributions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, especially, has taken special interest and has held several meetings with NRIs and asked them to play a crucial role in India’s development. NRIs have helped the country’s foreign exchange reserves grow. Coastal Karnataka’s path of development is owed in large measure to the money, sweat, and blood of those toiling in Gulf. NRIs are also responsible for the coastal district’s numero uno performance in the field of education and health.
In 1980s, while one section of Kannadigas migrated to Mumbai in search of jobs, another section moved to the Gulf countries. Today, not only has that Non-Resident Kannadigas community grown and flourished, it has also developed its hometowns. But Corona has now changed everything and has created a storm in the lives of those working in Mumbai and Gulf countries. People who worked for their motherland in the sweltering sun are looking for succor from their motherland. Their problems would be resolved if even a small amount of their contribution is returned. Ironically, their motherland is not responding as expected. Today, Gulf NRIs are not expecting their motherland to help them financially or in terms of other amenities but are pleading for flights to be organized for their return home. They are prepared to pay even an extra cost for it. But the country is responding with great reluctance.
Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia recognize themselves as ‘friendly countries of India’. These countries have indirectly joined hands in India’s development by giving jobs to lakhs of Indians. If Corona has spread extensively in these countries, it is because of foreign visitors. Gulf countries are fighting effectively against the spread of Corona. Workers of various other countries are seen as obstacles in their battle against Corona. At the same time, since economic activities have come to a standstill, these workers have been rendered jobless. As these countries cannot fend for the jobless, they are asking for the repatriation of the jobless migrants by the countries of their origin. Several countries have responded and taken their people back home. But thousands of Indians are stranded. As India has not taken any special interest in getting them home, these Indians find themselves in danger as they are seemingly not wanted by anyone. This stand that India has adopted is diametrically opposite to the stand it has taken towards NRIs till now. India should be aware that the world is watching our neglect of its own people.
Although India under pressure has brought back NRIs from several countries, the interest shown in bringing back middle class NRIs from Gulf countries is not the same as that shown in the case of rich NRIs from European countries. Karnataka has also displayed a sheer irresponsibility in this regard. While Karnataka has brought back a few hundreds of NRIs from Dubai by organizing special flights, it has not responded to the pleas of those living in the Saudi Arabia. It has been alleged that the State and the Centre are deliberately discriminating against NRIs in Saudi Arabia where around three lakh Kannada-speaking NRIs, half of these from coastal districts, live. Around ten thousand people are waiting to return home from Saudi Arabia. Of these, around 4000 are in emergency situations and in dire need of returning home. The fact that the governments have yet not finalized flights to bring these people home has shocked and angered them.
Many of these people who have to return home immediately are the elderly, women on Visit Visas, and those in need of medical treatment. Parents and family members who are visiting their families and those looking for jobs are waiting anxiously to return home. Similarly, pregnant women and children find themselves in an inevitable situation to return home. Many of them have fallen seriously ill and died due to the apathy shown by the governments.
Their situation will only worsen if there is any more delay. This attitude of the government can also endanger those who have not been infected with Corona. Instead of acting decisively, leaders are shirking from their responsibility by engaging in blame game and are pointing fingers at each other. This lack of coordination between leaders is also responsible for the delay in bringing back these people from Saudi who sense some political reasons behind this mess. Governments should adopt the same attitude they shown in bringing back NRIs from other countries. Many organizations have already come forward to foot the air travel cost of people who are facing financial difficulties and have also promised to provide free quarantine facilities and have identified buildings to house them. Why is then the delay on the part of the government? Why is it not possible for the Karnataka government to do this when the Kerala government has done this successfully? The Karnataka government should adopt the Kerala model and discharge its responsibilities failing which, this negligence towards those who built the coastal districts could prove to be a grave disaster that can’t be undone.
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LoP Ashoka targets CM govt over corruption, says being 'shameless' in public life not forgivable
Bengaluru (PTI): Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in Karnataka on corruption, BJP leader R Ashoka on Friday said, being foolish was forgivable, but being "shameless" in public life was not.
The Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly claimed that in just 30 months of its tenure, the Congress administration has broken every previous record on corruption-related controversies.
He was responding to Siddaramaiah's post on 'X' on Thursday hitting back at the BJP, stating that Upa Lokayukta Justice Veerappa's claims of "63 per cent corruption" were based on his report in November 2019, when BJP's B S Yediyurappa was the CM.
"But Ashoka, without understanding the Upa Lokayukta's statement properly, has ended up tying the BJP's own bells of sins onto our heads and has effectively shot himself in the foot," the CM had said, as he accused Ashoka of foolishness for trying to twist Veerappa's statement to target the current government.
Responding, Ashoka said, "it is one thing to be called foolish in politics, that can be forgiven."
"But in public life, especially in the Chief Minister's chair, one must never become shameless," Ashoka posted on 'X' on Friday addressing Siddaramaiah.
Noting that the CM himself had admitted on the floor of the Assembly that a Rs 87 crore scam took place in the Valmiki Development Corporation, he said that when a CM acknowledges such a massive irregularity inside the floor of the House, the natural expectation is immediate action and accountability.
"But instead of taking responsibility, you continue in office as if nothing has happened. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
Pointing out that the CM's Economic Advisor and senior Congress MLA Basavaraja Rayareddy had publicly stated that under Congress rule, Karnataka has become No.1 in corruption, Ashoka said, "Yet, you still cling to the Chief Minister's chair without a moment of introspection. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness."
Senior Congress MLA C R Patil had exposed the "money for House" racket in the Housing Department and even warned that the government would collapse if the details he has were made public, Ashoka said.
"Despite such serious allegations from within your own party (Congress), you neither initiated an inquiry nor acted against the concerned minister. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," Ashoka asked the CM.
Highlighting the "40 percent commission" allegation Congress made against the previous BJP government, the opposition leader said, the commission that the Siddaramaiah government appointed concluded that the accusation was baseless.
"After your own panel demolished your own claim, what moral right do you have to continue repeating that allegation. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
For the last two and a half years, Karnataka has been 'drowning' in corruption, scandals, irregularities and allegations across departments. Ashoka said, "If I begin listing every case that emerged under your government, even 24 hours would not be enough."
"And the most tragic aspect of your administration is this: the unbearable pressure, corruption demands and administrative harassment under your government pushed several officers and contractors into extreme distress - including the suicide of Chandrasekharan which exposed the Valmiki Development Corporation scam - a sign of how deeply broken the system has become under your watch," he said.
Instead of fixing this hopeless environment, the government has tried to bury every complaint and silence every voice, he charged.
"Being foolish is forgivable, but being shameless in public life is definitely not."
"When your own ministers admit scams, when your own advisors certify Karnataka as No.1 in corruption, and when your own MLAs expose rackets inside your departments - clinging to power without accountability is not leadership. It is shamelessness in its purest form." PTI KSU
Earlier on Thursday Ashoka had demanded that the corruption case and allegations in the state against the Congress government be handed over to a CBI investigation, citing a reported statement by Upalokaykta Justice Veerappa alleging "63 per cent corruption", following which Siddaramaiah hit back at the BJP leader.
