The Hindu : Front Page : Energy Minister leads team to UAE

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007
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Energy Minister leads team to UAE

For safe passage of people from A.P. stuck in that country

PHOTO: P.V. Sivakumar

Shattered hopes: Malliah, a shepherd from Kamareddy in Nizamabad waits for his son to arrive from Dubai at Hyderabad airport on Tuesday.

HYDERABAD: The Government has decided to depute a five-member delegation, led by Energy Minister Mohd. Ali Shabbir, to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for ensuring safe passage of people from the State who are stuck in the UAE without proper documents.

In view of the September 2 deadline for deportation of ‘illegal’ immigrants in UAE, the Government has decided to take all measures to ensure that more than 45,000 people from the State, who have been issued emergency certificates, are brought back here.

Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Tuesday reviewed the situation with Mr. Shabbir, Chief Secretary J. Harinarayan, Director-General of Police M.A. Basith and Regional Passport Officer B. Bala Bhaskar.

He was informed that the Indian Embassy in Dubai and Abu Dhabi had issued 60,000 emergency certificates and renewed passports of another 20,000 persons from India.

NRI issues

As the number of persons from the State was high, the Government felt that Mr. Shabbir, who looks after issues relating to NRIs, should lead the delegation. The team would comprise a representative of the External Affairs Ministry, Additional Secretary to the Government (protocol), GAD N. V. Ramana Reddy and two senior officials from the Immigration department.

Mr. Shabbir told reporters after the meeting that the team would leave for Dubai as soon as the visas were issued. “We will study the conditions of Indians, particularly those from Andhra Pradesh, and make arrangements for their travel back to India.”

“All efforts will be made to arrange for bringing back ‘illegal immigrants’ who want to come back,” he said, adding the Government would pursue with the Centre the possibility of extending the free travel facility to them, as was done in case of the Gulf War. “If necessary, we will request the Centre to operate special flights,” he added.

Mr. Bala Bhaskar said any ‘illegal’ immigrant, who stays back in UAE after the September 2 deadline, would be subjected to local laws.

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