Govt in touch with Kenyan authorities on Indians safety

NEW DELHI: Government is in touch with Kenyan authorities to ensure safety of the Indian community in the violence-hit African nation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday told Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in response to concerns raised by him on the issue.

After Modi wrote to the Prime Minister seeking Centre's immediate action to ensure safety of Gujaratis living in that strife-torn country, Singh replied assuring him that his government was working in this direction.

"I have asked the Ministry of External Affairs to take immediate action," the Prime Minister said adding that the Indian High Commission there was already in touch with the Indian community.

The Centre was closely monitoring the situation in Kenya, Singh said, adding the government was also in touch with Kenyan authorities to ensure that Indians are provided adequate security and safety.

Modi in his letter had expressed deep concern over position of Gujarati people living in Kenya as the African nation is gripped in violence which has claimed at least 300 lives.

"The state government has information that people of Gujarati origin have suffered heavy losses to their property due to the violence. The state government has so far not received information of deaths of any non-resident Indians in Kenya," Modi had said urging the Centre to immediately make arrangements for safety of lives and property of the people.