Govt failed to respond to Indian workers' deplorable condition

JD(U) MP Ali Anwar today alleged that the Modi government has failed to respond to "slave-like conditions" of Indian workers in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, and instead been "soft-peddling" the issue in dealing with these oil-rich nations.
He also accused the NDA government of "hushing up" the case of a Nepali woman's rape in Gurgaon, in which a Saudi diplomat is an accused and "letting him escape".
Social activist Swami Agnivesh, who joined him at a press conference at the JD(U) headquarters here, alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Saudi Arabia, "indulged in propaganda" by taking "selfie with Sheikh" and held a very brief meeting with Indian workers there which was a mere "photo opportunity".

"The NDA government has failed to respond to the deplorable and slave-like conditions of labourers in the Gulf countries. Many of them have their passports seized and forced to live in inhuman conditions," Anwar alleged.
"Why don't they summon the diplomats of these countries. Why this soft-peddling on the issue," the JD(U)'s Rajya Sabha MP asked.
"We urge the Centre to constitute a high-level team comprising members from National Human Rights Commission, central trade unions, MPs and social activists to visit and investigate the condition of seven million Indian labourers in Saudi and other the Gulf countries, and submit a report to Parliament," Anwar said.

The condition of these workers are "deplorable", he said, adding, not only the NDA government should ensure that these labourers are "rescued", it must make sure that they are duly compensated and action taken against those countries as per international law.

Thousands of Indians in Saudi Arabia are facing severe food crisis due to financial hardships after they lost their jobs due to slowdown of the economy in the Gulf. The Indian Mission has provided food to the Indians who cannot buy food.
MoS for External Affairs V K Singh left for Jeddah last night and MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said his on-the-ground assessment will determine future course of action.

Reacting to this, Agnivesh said, "Indian government has asked its own Ambassador and Consul General in Jeddah to feed the starving labourers and has now sent V K Singh to oversee their rescue on its own resources. Why can't those nations extend support to our workers, who toil in foreign lands."
On the Nepali woman's rape case, they said, the "fig leaf of Vienna Convention" was used to "let the Saudi diplomat escape" the country even after an FIR was lodged.
"Is rape an act which should allow diplomatic immunity? Why did the government allow him to escape," Agnivesh asked and claimed, scores of women from India are taken to Saudi in the name of domestic help but are "sexually exploited" there.

The government must respond to these situations, he said.