The LDF Government in Kerala, which rolled out the red carpet for Sharjah ruler Dr Sheik Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, has put forward a dossier of seven-point co-operation agenda before the visiting dignitary. The decision has also been welcomed by Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has taken an unusual step to please the Royals in Gulf for building Nava Keralam, his dream project to build a new Kerala .
A total of 149 Indians serving prison terms for minor and financial offences in Sharjah will be released following the amnesty declared here by the Emirate’s visiting ruler Sultan Bin Mohammed Al- Quasimi.
the Sharjah government has also chose to consider very seriously the demand that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had put before him on Monday - to construct a family city and a Kerala cultural centre over 20 acres of land in Sharjah.
Al Qasimi made the announcement after accepting the honorary DLitt conferred on him by the University of Calicut at the Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.
The announcement came in response to a request by Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking the release of Keralites who had completed three years of their jail term in Sharjah.
According to a joint communique issued by the Sharjah and Kerala governments, those facing punishment for minor offences and financial misappropriation would be given pardon as per the general amnesty.
Al-Quasimi was honoured with an honorary D.lit Degree from Calicut University at a function held at Raj Bhavan here. Governor Justice (retd) P Sathasivam conferred the degree.
Sharjah also agreed to open an institution of higher learning for Arabic studies and research and set up a chain of skill development centres for imparting training to those seeking jobs in the Gulf region.
“This was announced by Al-Quasimi during his one-to-one meeting with Vijayan”, the communique said.
Sharjah has also accepted in-principle the state’s proposal for giving international driving licence to those who seeking jobs in the Emirate, the release said.
A joint committee consisting top officials of Sharjah and Kerala would be set up to work out an action plan to implement projects agreed to by both sides.
The Kerala government also offered land for construction of a permanent building for the UAE consulate in the state capital.
The Sharjah Family City project, cultural centre and International Education Complex to be set up by Kerala in Sharjah were some of the other projects under the active consideration of the Sharjah government, the release said.
Later, giving a lecture, Al-Quasimi hailed the harmony among the people of Kerala and wanted them to preserve it.
“I saw a dance yesterday. I was very happy to see three sects of people dancing together with love. I hope that will remain always,” he said.
Al-Quasimi, who reached here on September 24 on a five- day visit to the state, promised he would be back within a year to celebrate the fulfilling of promises he had made.
The ruler met the chief minister at his official residence in the morning. He also met the council of ministers yesterday and discussed various issues pertaining to Kerala and Sharjah.
As many as 149 Indians, languishing in Sharjah jails for various non-criminal offences, will be released soon, UAE Supreme Council member and Sharjah ruler Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi announced on Tuesday.Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requested Union Minister for External Affairs to secure the release of Indian citizens who have been sentenced to jail in civil offences in Middle East countries. Sharjah had agreed to release 149 Indian prisoners on the request made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to Sharjah ruler H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, during the recent visit of H.H to Kerala.
In this context, CM suggested that, citing this humanitarian gesture of Sharjah, if the Indian Government takes up the issue with other Emirates in UAE, we may be able to secure the release of a large number of similarly placed Indians. CM requested the MEA to consider this step & direct the diplomatic missions in UAE & other middle eastern countries to pursue it. The Amnesty for Indian prisoners, who have completed three years in jail for civil cases, was announced by the Sharjah ruler after accepting an honorary doctorate conferred on him by the University of Calicut at a function held at the Raj Bhavan here. A Joint Communique, issued by the Sharjah ruler and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said as many as 149 Indians, who are mainly involved in minor civil cases, would benefit from the Amnesty which was announced following a request by the Kerala CM that Malayalees who are in jail in labour-related and visa cases, be released so that they can return home. In response to the CM's request, the Sharjah ruler said, "several Keralites and also people from other countries are imprisoned in our jails on the charges of various crimes. The Chief Minister requested me to send them back to their native places. But, I asked him why should we send them back. We are freeing all of them, who are not committed serious crimes, and we are ready to help them find jobs there itself." The joint communique said three projects -- an affordable housing scheme for Keralites, a cultural centre and international schools -- were under the active consideration of the Sharjah Government. Follow up action would be taken in these three projects which would benefit a large number of Keralites settled in Sharjah. Besides, several other projects in IT, skill development, medical tourism and infrastructure development, were also discussed during the visit. A high-level official team, with representation from both the sides, would be constituted soon to prepare an action plan for implementing several projects. Kerala also promised to provide land free of cost to the UAE consulate here for constructing its own building.
