Dharmendra Pradhan asks MEA to help repatriate stranded Odia men

Bhubaneswar: Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday sought the intervention of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for the release of 10 Odia workers stranded in Dubai.

The victims had released a video on social media seeking help from the Centre.

"I came across an OTV news report dated 30.05.2019 regarding some Odia people who are stranded in Dubai. Ten people who were working in the company Asia Pacific Building Contracting LLC, Dubai and accommodated at Saila, Sharjah are kept captive. They released a video about a month back asking for help for the immediate repatriation and their mobile numbers are now deactivated," Pradhan said in a letter.

He said that it has been ascertained that these men belong to Nayagarh and Ganjam districts of Odisha.

Pradhan apprised Jaishankar about the situation and sought the Ministry of External Affairs' support for the immediate repatriation of the victims to India on humanitarian grounds.

Earlier, when the matter was flagged on twitter, External Affairs minister S.Jaishankar had intervened and informed that the Consulate in Dubai is working to resolve the issue. Later, the Consulate General of India in Dubai clarified that 25 workers from Odisha, UP, Bihar, Rajasthan wanting to return and formalities for their return to be completed in a few days.

After #OTV report on 10 Odia Labourers being trapped in Dubai, External Affairs minister S.Jaishankar intervenes; Consulate General of India in Dubai says, 25 workers from #Odisha, UP, Bihar, Rajasthan wanting to return, formalities for their return to be completed in a few days pic.twitter.com/zxb23HD2Om

— OTV (@otvnews) June 6, 2019