Chandy denies dumping diaspora complaints in Dubai

Thiruvananthapuram, April 18 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Thursday denied media reports and social media campaign that he dumped the complaints he received on his United Arab Emirates (UAE) visit last week there itself instead of bringing them back here for resolution.

In a statement issued here, Chandy said that in the public interaction he had with Keralites at Sharjah April 11, he received a total of 427 representations.

"Of this, my staff, P. Sivadas who accompanied me, carried with him 102 representations and brought it to my office here on April 14. The rest of the representations had been registered with the Sharjah Indian Association.

"M.G. Pushpakaran, a board member of the Pravasi Welfare Board (registered under the state government) will bring it (the remainder) with him when he comes to attend the director board meeting of the PWB to be held here tomorrow (Friday)," he said.

Chandy termed as "absolutely baseless" reports by a section of the media that he off-loaded 20 kg at the airport after these representations led to him overshooting the maximum baggage allowed.

During his visit - his first overseas visit after taking over in May 2011, Chandy became only the second chief minister from India to have met UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Dubai's ruler Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.