Indian Mission in Oman not inactive: Govt

Maintaining that India has cordial relations with Oman, the Government on Thursday told the Rajya Sabha that deportation of its nationals overstaying in that country was not directed against Indians.

"It is the sovereign right of a country to find out illegal persons living there and it is not directed against Indians and Keralites," Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamad said during Zero Hour.

Responding to a query raised by CPI(M) member A Vijayaraghavan on the plight of Indians in Oman, Ahamad said about 900 Indians who had been rounded up had been released on production of documents while others have been deported.

Denying the charge that Indian Mission was inactive, the Minister said the Embassy had worked very hard and the government was doing everything possible.

Earlier, raising the issue, Vijayaraghavan said 15,000 Indians were overstaying in Oman as their labour card and visa had not been renewed and added they were living in inhuman conditions in jail.

CPI(M) member Brinda Karat drew the attention of the government to the ongoing relay hunger strike by 1,000 anganwadi workers and demanded that their jobs should be regularised.

AIADMK member C Perumal said 50 lakh people have been affected by the dreaded Chikungunya in Tamil Nadu and pointed out that the disease was spreading because no effective measures have been taken by the state government to contain the epidemic.

NP Durga (TDP) urged the government to declare health emergency in Andhra Pradesh.