Saudi starts drive against illegal foreigners as amnesty ends

Riyadh, Nov 4: Indian workers hold their passports as they gather outside a labour office, after missing a deadline to correct their visa status, in Riyadh November 4, 2013.

Saudi Arabia today launched an all-out inspection campaign targeting illegal foreign workers as the 7-month grace period to correct their labour and residency status under the Nitaqat law ended, even as over 1 million Indians have availed the amnesty.

The campaign would continue throughout the year and there is no time limit set for it, said Maj Gen Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman of the Ministry of Interior.

The grace period announced on April 3 and then extended for four months ended yesterday.

The new labour policy Nitaqat was part of Saudi Arabia's steps to expand job avenues for its nationals. Under the policy, 10 per cent of jobs even in small and medium business establishments should be reserved for Saudi nationals.

The raids will cover all cities, towns, regions and villages as well as highways across the Kingdom, Al-Turki said at a press conference. He said violators will be arrested, penalised and deported.

"All expatriates who work for their personal gain or overstayed their Haj, Umrah, and visit visas and infiltrators will be caught and will be detained until completing legal procedures for penal measures and deportation.

The campaign also aims at catching Saudis who employ illegal residents or those who leave their workers to find job on their own," Al-Turki was quoted as saying by Saudi Gazette.

He reiterated that the inspection raids will be strict and continuous with optimum utilisation of the human resources.

Millions of workers from India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan, among others, have taken advantage of the amnesty and left the Kingdom.

The 2.8 million plus strong Indians in Saudi Arabia is the largest expatriate community in the country.

Indian embassy in Riyadh today said a meeting of the core group of volunteers registered with the diplomatic mission and officials deployed at labour offices will be held tomorrow to discuss post amnesty developments.

Till October 21, the embassy estimated that over 95 per cent of Indians who got their exit papers have already left the country.

"The figures that we have till date is that more than one million Indians have used the concessions announced by His Majesty and corrected their status.

"Since the beginning of grace period so far 359,997 Indians have transferred their services, 355,035 Indians have changed their job title and 466,689 Indians have renewed their licenses," the embassy said in a statement last month.

Saudi Arabia is the world's largest oil exporter and has the Arab world's largest economy.

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JD(S) leader G T Devegowda backs CM Siddaramaiah in MUDA row, taunts HDK

News Network

October 4,2024

Mysuru: Chairman of JD(S) core committee and Chamundeshwari constituency MLA G T Devegowda on Thursday expressed his solidarity with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying the latter need not resign, while lambasting leaders of his own party and alliance partner BJP, including Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

In his speech during Mysuru Dasara inauguration he said that if persons against whom FIR is registered have to resign, many leaders from all the three parties, including Opposition Leader R Ashoka, will have to resign.

“All are sitting in glass houses... Since I know Siddaramaiah well, I am talking about him. At a time when mines and real estate are ruling politics, Siddaramaiah has survived in politics. He has never done any favour,” Devegowda said.

He added, “Allegations against Siddaramaiah are unexpected and accidental. If the Governor and Chief Justice order an investigation, it does not mean that he should resign."

He continued, asking, "Have they told Siddaramaiah to resign or have they asked to imprison him? When a person becomes a Central minister, he or she should realise their dignity and responsibility. Instead of recognising the good work done by Siddaramaiah, they ask him to resign. Will Kumarswamy (facing an FIR) resign? Should Siddaramaiah, who has become CM with a support of 135 MLAs, resign?"

"Opposition leaders are not remembering the good work of earlier CMs Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Veerendra Patil, Ramakrishna Hegde, H D Deve Gowda or S M Krishna. Karnataka is a model state. It is a bad trend to topple an elected government which is doing good work,” he further said.

Devegowda added, “Siddaramaiah is Goddess Chamundeshwari’s ‘Varaputra’ and hence has her blessings during tough times. He won the election in Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency, when the BJP-JD(S) government was in power in 2006. With the blessings of the Goddess, he has held varied positions right from becoming an MLA for the first time in 1983. He presented 15 budgets and has become CM for a second time. He took H C Mahadevappa, a Dalit leader to the state level. Siddaramaiah has the support of Deputy CM D K Shivakumar as ‘Jodeththu’. Blessings of the beneficiaries of guarantee schemes are with him (Siddaramaiah).”

Siddaramaiah said, “Devegowda was a MUDA member. He knows the truth. Hence, he is saying this. His words have filled strength in me. ‘Satyameva Jayate’, Truth will always triumph.”

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