Andhra gears up to bring back immigrants

With the deadline for the return of illegal Indian immigrants just a day away, the Andhra Pradesh Government has stepped...

With the deadline for the return of illegal Indian immigrants just a day away, the Andhra Pradesh Government has stepped up efforts with the help of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Dubai to bring back its residents.

The deadline is November 2, but still around 15,000 people from the state are on foreign soil. Almost 40,000 have returned during the last three years.

Efforts are on to arrange special flights to bring back the immigrants. Joint Secretary (Ministry of External Affairs) Ravi Shankar and Additional Secretary (protocol) Ramana Reddy are working our the modalities. Special Chief Secretary (Finance) Ramakanth Reddy has left for Dubai.

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Some officials from the Regional Passport Office have gone to Dubai and issued emergency certificates and renewed old passports. Sources said those whose passports have been renewed, are now trying for new visas in Dubai. “Though, the Government is trying to fly them back free of cost and get them jobs, some are reluctant to return just to avoid embarrassment back home,” an official said.

Minister for Power Mohd Ali Shabbir said the state is also making efforts to put a check on youths flying abroad through bogus travel agents. “The immigration officials recently arrested travel agents Wajeed Hussain of Nizamabad, Shivaji and BK Chandraiah both natives of Karimangar for cheating gullible youths,” he said.