OICC UK exerts pressure on Congress leaders in Kerala to evacuate stranded Keralites in the UK

LONDON April 17: Lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic has affected allmost all countries in the world. India too is under lockdown until 3rd May 2020. However, the plight of Non-Resident Indians those who are stranded in various countries has been a matter of concern for all.

Although Covid-19 guidelines has to be adhered to, the issues faced by those stranded, in particular by those students whose universities have been shut are severe, OICC UK leaders informed the Congress leaders back in Kerala and asked them to take this up on a national levele to raise it with the Indian government.

OICC UK leaders in the UK and other leaders from various European regions held a tele-conferencing meeting with Congress leaders in Kerala to raise issues faced by those Non Resident Keralites in particular students those who are stranded in the UK and other parts of the world.

OICC UK leaders T Haridas, KK Mohandas and Suju Daniel raised the matters with Congress leaders KPCC president Mullapally Ramachandran, Kerala Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala and Congress Working Committee member Ommen Chandy.

The tele-conferencing meeting was attended by Jinson Varghese from Germany, Lincoln Vinstar from Ireland and other leaders from Spain, Italy, France, Switzerland, the Middle East, Africa and other parts of the world.

According to reports there are around 400,000 Indian nationals, including about 50,000 students in the UK, who hold different types and duration of visas.

The High Commission of India, London, UK is working with organizations, community support groups and individuals across UK so that stranded Indian citizens could be reached and assisted as possible.

However, the issues are mounting each day without any uncertainty on how long the issues will last and many of those stranded are struggling with finances and health issues.

There are many Writ Petitions/PILs being filed across the country in various High Courts and the Supreme Court for seeking evacuation of Indians stranded abroad due to the travel restrictions imposed by the Government of India.

In all such cases, the High Courts have been informed that all possible assistance is being given by our missions/posts abroad to Indians stranded abroad including Indian students in those countries.