Ensuring speedy return to their home country, the Centre has decided to waive off the fee collected from Indians who were given amnesty by United Arab Emirates Government for overstaying, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, E Ahamed said today.
They are not stranded. See, the Government of UAE has issued amnesty for two months. It has asked them to leave
their country who were overstaying.
This is the second time we are waiving off the fee collected towards EC (Emergency Certificate)”, he told PTI to a query here.
He said the Indians were supposed to pay approximately 67 Dirhams as the fee for obtaining the Emergency Certificate.
Now we have waived it to speed up the application processes”, he said.
Responding to a query on reports of more than 40,000 people were returning to India after the initiative taken by
UAE Government, he said, “we do not know that.
A clear picture will come only after those people who apply for the EC.”
The UAE government last month announced a two-month amnesty for violators of immigration and residency laws
beginning December 4, 2012.
In 2007, taking advantage of a similar amnesty, about 46,000 emergency certificates (Outpasses) were issued to
Indian nationals who had lost their passports.
The present amnesty would apply only to those who have overstayed their visit or resident visas in the UAE, he said.
Earlier, talking to reporters Ahmed urged the Centre to provide justice to those individuals who were “languishing” in Indian jails for several months.
I had informed about this matter to Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde also.
Those, irrespective of religion, who have been languishing in jail should be given justice”, he said.
Noting that 18 per cent of population comprises the Minority communities, he said not even three per cent
reservation was given to Minorities.
Indian Union Muslim League, General Secretary, K M Kader Mohideen said the party was in coalition with the United
Democratic Front in Kerala and with DMK in Tamil Nadu.
Our association with them will continue including DMK in the coming elections” he said.
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