36 Indian workers rescued from Oman after Union minister Goyal's intervention
Mumbai (PTI): Thirty-six Indian workers stranded in Oman have been rescued and brought back home safely following the intervention of Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.
The workers were rescued in coordination with the Indian Embassy in the West Asian country, said Goyal on Tuesday.
Goyal noted the rescue exercise was guided by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend every possible assistance to Indians in distress abroad.
"The safe return of 36 Indian workers from Oman is a testament to Prime Minister Modi's decisive leadership and the government's unwavering resolve to protect every Indian life abroad," emphasised the BJP Lok Sabha MP from North Mumbai.
The issue was brought to Goyal's attention by Govind Prasad, BJP Adhyaksh (chief) of Ward No 24, North Mumbai, who informed him that 18 Indian workers in Oman, including one of his relatives, were allegedly being exploited by their employer and living in distressing conditions.
Taking prompt cognisance of the matter, the Union minister directed his officers to prioritise the case and reach out to the Indian Embassy in Oman for immediate intervention.
Acting swiftly, the Embassy, with the help of local authorities, not only traced the 18 reported workers, but also located 18 other Indians facing similar hardship.
"All 36 workers were provided temporary shelter at a local gurdwara, which graciously offered them accommodation while the Embassy completed the necessary formalities for their return," Goyal said.
Within days, all the workers were safely repatriated to India, he added.
The workers had reportedly travelled to the Gulf country seeking better job opportunities, but were allegedly subjected to exploitation, including delayed or partial salary payments made after four to five months, confinement in cramped accommodations, and confiscation of passports.
In some instances, loans were allegedly taken in their names, and the employer reportedly threatened them with arrest if they attempted to leave.
Goyal noted such cases reaffirm the government's commitment to safeguard the welfare, dignity, and safety of every Indian citizen abroad.
"For us, serving Indians in distress is not just a responsibility, it is a sacred duty. Our workers abroad are the pride of the nation, and this government will leave no stone unturned to ensure their safety, dignity, and return home when needed," he opined.
The Union minister urged citizens to exercise caution before travelling abroad for employment.
"Before travelling abroad for work, please verify the authenticity of agents and potential employers carefully. A little caution can prevent immense suffering and protect you from fraudulent agents," he suggested.
In a similar instance in August this year, Goyal intervened to assist the family of an Indian worker from Mumbai who had died in Guinea, a coastal country in West Africa.
Following his direction, the Indian Mission in the African nation acted swiftly to bring back the mortal remains, which were handed over to the worker's grieving family.
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Evading core issue: Siddaramaiah slams Centre on sugarcane FRP in letter to Pralhad Joshi
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched a sharp attack on the Central Government Saturday, accusing it of "evading the core issue" of the widening gap between cultivation costs and the price realisation for sugarcane, which he stated has pushed lakhs of farmers into distress.
In a detailed, three-page letter to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Siddaramaiah dismantled the Centre's claims on the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP), ethanol blending, and financial support to the state.
The Chief Minister's letter was a direct rebuttal to one he had received from Joshi regarding the "plight of sugarcane farmers in Karnataka."
"Farcical" FRP claims
Siddaramaiah challenged the Centre's announced FRP of ₹355 per quintal at 10.25% recovery, calling the government's claim of a 105.2% margin over production cost "unfortunately, a farce."
"Every farmer in Karnataka knows that since 2014, the cost of fertilizers, labour, transportation, and other inputs have more than doubled," Siddaramaiah wrote. He contrasted this with the FRP, which he stated has increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of just 4.47% since 2014, rising from ₹210 to ₹355.
He also pointed out that the FRP was not increased for two consecutive years during the NDA regime, causing an average loss of ₹20 per quintal to farmers. This, he argued, was in stark contrast to the UPA years, when the CAGR for FRP was 12.96%.
The Chief Minister accused the Central Government of "artificially pegging higher" the recovery rate to manipulate the numbers. "While it was 9.5% during UPA, the NDA government raised it to 10.25%, reducing the effective FRP," the letter stated. "On a comparable 9.5% recovery rate, the present FRP is only ₹329 per quintal, making the real growth a meagre 3.8% CAGR. This manipulation of numbers has betrayed the farmers."
Siddaramaiah also refuted the Centre's portrayal of ethanol blending as a "boon" to the sugar sector. He argued that the financial benefits are not being passed on to the farmers.
UPA Era: With ethanol blending below 5% and 9.5% recovery, the FRP recorded a robust CAGR of 12.96%.
NDA Era: With ethanol blending at approximately 20% and 10.25% recovery, the CAGR has "dropped to just 3.8%."
He noted that ethanol supply from Karnataka distilleries has only "marginally" increased from 38 crore litres in 2022-23 to 47 crore litres in 2024-25, despite an installed capacity of 270 crore litres.
The larger question remains unanswered," he wrote, "why has the benefit of ethanol blending not been passed on to the farmers?
The Chief Minister made several demands and accusations:
New MSP mechanism: He urged the Centre to devise a new MSP for sugar that categorises "domestic and commercial consumption separately," so that higher profits from commercial sales are reflected in the price paid to farmers.
Data transparency: Challenging claims that the Centre has provided "substantial financial assistance" to sugar mills, Siddaramaiah demanded the "mill-wise data" of such support in Karnataka to verify if the benefits "have truly reached the intended stakeholders."
Absence of Union Ministers: He expressed disappointment that "none of the Union Ministers from Karnataka attended the meeting held on 7th November 2025," where stakeholders were invited to discuss the issue.
Tax devolution: He accused the Union Government of a "step-motherly attitude," claiming Karnataka has been denied "over ₹2 lakh crore" in its rightful share of tax devolution and grants over the past five years.
Siddaramaiah concluded with a direct appeal to Joshi as a "senior Union Minister from Karnataka" to "stand with the farmers."
"The real measure of governance is not in statistical claims but in the smiles on the faces of farmers," he wrote.
