The brewing storm in the Middle East, fueled by Israel-US tensions with Iran, has Kerala on high alert for its Gulf expatriates. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan led an urgent online huddle Tuesday night with regional reps at Loka Kerala Sabha, declaring NRK protection as the government’s foremost duty.
He advocated for diaspora cohesion, insisting on transcending rifts to jointly navigate the uncertainty. Pleased with varied inputs from Malayali outposts, Vijayan acknowledged persistent apprehensions over evolving threats.
Kerala promptly informed the Union government to safeguard expatriate Indians and streamline urgent homecomings. ‘Every aid within our scope will be rendered,’ the CM pledged.
Flashpoints discussed: grounded flights, sluggish refunds, fare hikes, charter possibilities, and airport stranding of transit folks. The state aims to press these urgently with Delhi.
Vijayan underscored bilateral trade dependencies with Gulf states, forewarning economic tremors that could jolt Kerala’s workforce and supply lines.
Attendees reported domestic calm in their areas despite worries, but highlighted boots-on-ground hurdles—emergency exits, student returns for tests, cancellation victims, and visa-limbo cases.
Diaspora members were sternly advised to stick to verified embassy and local directives, ignoring baseless buzz. The CM reassured comprehensive state backing to alleviate foreign predicaments for Keralites.