Kerala voices concern over deportation of workers by Kuwait

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Expressing concern over deportation of several expatriate workers including Indians by Kuwait, Kerala today urged the Centre to intervene in the development.

In a letter to External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, state minister for Non-Resident Keralites K V Joseph said workers were sent back without even intimating the Indian embassy in Kuwait.

He recalled that the problems posed to Indian workers by indigenisation policy in Saudi Arabi had been fruitfully addressed by India and a similar approach could prove effective in the case of Kuwait as well.

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed were already seized of the development, Joseph said.

As directed by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Joseph would be visiting Kuwait later this week to assess the situation and hold discussions with the Indian Embassy authorities there.

Kerala account for a large number of Indian expatriates in the Gulf region.