Hashmi said that he recognized the “legitimate desire” of Indians living abroad to exercise their right to have a say in the governance of India. He was speaking during a luncheon felicitation organized by the Riyadh-based Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association.
During his interaction with Indian community, Hashmi touched on wide-ranging issues associated with Indian workers. He also spoke about a range of legislative issues in India.
Asked about the controversy raised after the exclusion of non-resident Indians from the ongoing census in India, he assured that he would raise the issue with the government. He said he would also look into the possibility of including the Indian workers, including those living in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, in the Unique Identity Card program.
Referring to the establishment of three new centers of education that will be affiliated with India’s Aligarh Muslim University, he said he had been supporting the move for the betterment of the minority communities in particular and for all Indians in general.
The deck has now been cleared for starting these AMU centers, which had received the approval from the government. The centers are planned to set up at Murshidabad in West Bengal, Kishanganj in Bihar and Malappuram in Kerala.
On the question of Indian workers, whose houses are under threat of demolition in Delhi, he assured that no home or constructions made by any Indian worker living in Saudi Arabia or anywhere else will be demolished.
“We are even working to regularize and legalize some housing colonies, including those in minority-dominated areas,” he added.
The government has already distributed provisional regularization certificates to around 1,200 colonies, promising to end their uncertain status in near future.
Asked about the uplift of Muslims, he said the Indian government was considering to provide reservations to Muslims in jobs. There are several “other initiatives on which we are working,” he added. To this end, he pointed out that the Andhra Pradesh state government has already implemented reservation for Muslims.
