What Modi must address in Riyadh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Riyadh on April 2 and 3. It is most likely that the PM will be raising a range of issues which the huge Indian diaspora is facing in Saudi Arabia.

Indian nationals comprise a significant part of the Saudi Arabia workforce - both blue-and white-collar workers. It is no secret that these poor workers have to work under harsh conditions. They make their way to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations to support their families back home.

Alas, the reality is a lot different from what they are promised by the myriad recruitment agencies. The workers mostly hail from Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Tamil Nadu. The worst affected among these are the construction workers.

I often get complaints from people working in the Gulf country. The workers tell me that employers either delay their wages or don't pay wages at all. They also face physical abuse at the hands of their employers. The worst part is that in many cases employers withhold their passports as well.

These workers also have to live in appalling conditions and hardly get any health or insurance benefits.

During the recent visit of Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir to India ahead of Modi’s Saudi trip, foreign minister Sushma Swaraj took up some of the issues that Indian workers face in Saudi Arabia. India has urged that the existing labour agreement with Saudi Arabia should be expanded to include sectors other than domestic workers.

It is important India take up the issues associated with the immigrant workforce. Other countries too have been taking up the cause of their people with Saudi Arabia seriously.

The Indian embassies in these countries have to wake up and address the issues of our workers. During the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, many people of Indian origin (PIOs) in countries such as Malaysia, Uganda and Kenya narrate so many hair-raising stories about the discrimination they face.

I have also been told by many PIOs from Malaysia that while the Chinese government takes up the issues of their people without any delay, the response of Indian government has always been lukewarm. 

Fight against terror

Modi must also explore the possibilities of how India can either help or join the 34-nation Saudi Arabia-led Islamic alliance that was formed in last December to take the menace of ISIS head on.

Arguably Modi's Riyadh visit assumes great significance because India is not part of the Islamic alliance, despite the fact that the country has a large Muslim population. What's more perplexing is that even Pakistan, Bangladesh as well as Mauritius are part of the alliance.

It goes without saying that Modi would discuss the various aspects of Islamic alliance with the Saudi Arabia leadership. It is still not clear whether India would like to join the war against the ISIS, but surely it can help.

Both India and Saudi Arabia are on the same page on the issue of tackling terrorism. After the terror attack on Pathankot air base, the Indian establishment is said to have dialled Riyadh for assistance and cooperation and Riyadh did not disappoint. They shared important intelligence and information with India.

The India-Saudi security cooperation has only improved in the past years. A month ago, Saudi Arabia deported an important terror suspect to India. Sources say he was plotting a major attack. 

Growing trade

Saudi Arabia today has become India's fourth largest partner, with bilateral trade reaching $40 billion in 2014-15. And as long as India imports 80 per cent of its oil, we are not in a position to displease the oil-rich Gulf nation. Due to massive energy deficit, India is banking on countries like Saudi Arabia to achieve the eight per cent growth rate it has set for itself. Hence, it is important for the country to bolster its relations with them.

One hopes after the end of Modi's visit, both India and Saudi Arabia would address their outstanding matters and cement a unique relationship.