Harish Rao demands action to rescue 12 migrant workers stranded in Jordan

BRS leader T. Harish Rao has criticised both the State and Central governments for failing to respond to the plight of 12 migrant workers from Telangana stranded in Jordan. He accused the Congress-led government of ignoring repeated appeals and failing to implement promised welfare measures for Gulf workers and NRIs.

Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and former Minister T. Harish Rao on Thursday criticised the state and central governments for their alleged indifference to the plight of 12 migrant workers from Telangana who are trapped in Jordan while seeking employment opportunities. Highlighting the workers’ desperate situation, he slammed the CMO for turning a blind eye to their repeated pleas for help.

“It is heartless that the CMO is ignoring the agony of 12 migrant labourers stuck in Jordan for jobs,” Rao said, emphasising that both the Centre and state governments have failed to provide any assurance despite multiple appeals. The workers hailed from districts including Nirmal, Kamareddy, Nizamabad, Jagtial, and Siddipet.

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“These Gulf workers are living in fear in a foreign land that feels like no country at all. Without money in hand and denied permission by their company to return home, they are facing unimaginable hardships.”

The BRS leader questioned the governments’ responsibility, asking, “Isn’t it the duty of the governments to stand by them?” He contrasted the current scenario with the BRS regime, claiming that migrations had ceased under their rule. “Now, under Congress governance, unemployment and job scarcity have forced people back to desert regions in search of work—a dire situation,” he added. He accused the ruling party of betraying not just all sections of society but also the families of migrant labourers.

Referring to the Congress party’s unfulfilled manifesto promises, he pointed out that the “Abhaya Hastham” pledges for the welfare of the Gulf workers and Non-Resident Indians also proved to be mere lip service.

“They gave numerous assurances for the welfare of Gulf workers and NRIs, but not a single one has been implemented to date,” Rao stated. He also criticized the advisory committee formed over a year and a half into the Congress rule to study Gulf workers’ welfare and a comprehensive NRI policy, questioning its effectiveness: “What is this committee—its chairman, vice-chairman, honorary members, and members—doing while Gulf workers are in crisis?”, he questioned.

Taking to social media platform ‘X’, Rao further slammed the state government for the lack of progress on promised NRI Welfare Board and Gulf Welfare Board, as well as the toll-free helpline for migrant workers abroad, which remains non-existent.

“The helpline they vowed to set up for the welfare of migrants overseas is still nowhere in sight.” He urged Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and the Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy to intervene urgently to help the migrant workers.