A reality check for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the NRI meet which kicks off in the Capital on January 9, from none other than one of the most well-known People of Indian Origin. Mahendra Chaudhry, former prime minister of Fiji, said the meet should have focused more on the poor and exploited people of Indian origin rather than the better-heeled . ‘‘The Government’s effort is alright but the involvement of FICCI has given the meet another direction,’’ Chaudhry told The Indian Express. ‘‘There seems to be stress on how India could benefit from the capital resources available with the NRIs. To make this meet more than just symbolic, it should go into wider issues, apart from commerce,’’ he said. Pointing to the harsher realities of the Indians living abroad, he said: ‘‘Being an Indian in Fiji means being politically marginalised, racially discriminated against and having basic rights violated everyday.’’ The community does not own land and is not represented militarily. They have been victims of three coups. In the plethora of panel discussions on finance, markets and knowledge-based industries, the Group Of People of India Origin has organised a special section where number of people would be submitting their reports to draw attention to these issues. The session would be attended by people of UK, Belgium, Netherlands, West Asia, US, Guyana, Singapore, Japan, France, Jamaica, West Indies, Surinam, South Africa and Madagascar. Chaudhry does not hide his disappointment with what India has done for Fijians after his first trip. ‘‘India can and should do more to help people like us through the diplomatic channels,’’ he said. But he ruled out any military option. Chaudhry has met External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma. He would also meet the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi. Listing concrete possibilities on what India could do, he said India was a member of the Commonwealth Minister’s Group. It is also part of the UN Convention against racial discrimination. ‘‘Fiji has ratified it and yet there is State-sponsored, institutionalised discrimination. India can raise it with them when they meet on March 13 to discuss Fiji,’’ he said.
