Death of an Indian

Patrix, I especially think the Indian govt. should
not be responsible if people work in dangerous places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, etc.

Jagadish,

I find your argument dangerous. It’s not for the governments to decide where the people work or not. It should be the individuals choice.

It should not be a ruse for the government to wash hands off it’s citizenry claiming – he/she chose to work in a dangerous place.

As it is, Indian Consulates/Embassies seldom support Indians caught in difficult situations, even in non-dangerous country. I fear to think what would happen if , per implied in your suggestion, the ‘citizen is fully reponsible for his/her welfare’ becomes the de-facto policy.

Vivek

Vivek. My argument is that Suryanarayana was mature enough to realize the dangers of working in Afghanistan currently, unlike say the truckers who got kidnapped in Iraq. In such a situation, if the individual chooses to work in a dangerous place, is it fair to blame the Indian govt.?

My argument is not about how the government should have a say in where people work. If it is the individual’s choice to go into a “war-zone”, why should the govt. be responsible?

My argument wouldn’t apply to a country where there was no risk, even if the probability of getting hit by a speeding car in a “non-dangerous” country is the same as the probability of being kidnapped in Iraq/Afghanistan.

It’s a sad day for us, Indians, to read that an Indian was murdered brutally overseas. My sympathies for his family.

I, however, take heart in government decision to stay put and fight.

“The Indian government’s position was that it would not pull out of Afghanistan and would continue to help Afghanistan and help its people rebuild.”

We, Indians and our government, are otherwise known to pull-out at the slightest adversity; made infamous by the act of our ex-external-affairs-minister accompanying Terrorists to freedom in Afghanistan.

Being such chicken-hearts, as a nation and the government, is the primary reason the various terrorist organizations take us to be easy targets.

Our Media also needs act responsible in the issue. For example by letting the family members grieve respectfully in private (and not under the media-glare). Sensationalizing such acts of cowardice will not only encourage perpetrators to commit more such acts. And also ties the hands of the government in taking , the much needed and appropriate, tough stand given the adverse PR.

Vivek

Jagadish,

Do you also imply our govt. ought to close down embassies/consulates there? The main purpose of any Embassy/consulate is to provide support to ex-pat Indians. If there be so such responsibilities in some countries, we should close our embassies there, shouldn’t we?

If we keep closing embassies in very such country Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh etc.; where do we, ulimately, stand in Internatinal Affairs?

As India does have an embassy in Kabul ,as of today, it is the right of every Indian in Afghanistan to expect support from it.

Democratic governments are for the people, they cannot shirk from the responsibility

Vivek

Suryanarayana’s death is not India’s fault. He is just one more victim of a faith based upon oppression, discrimination and human suffering. I am talking about Islam.

Yes, all religions have their problems, but Islam is much more than a belief system, it is a way of life and a criminal organization. In the last 10 years, Muslims have discovered that terror and hate give them respect – and make them feared. This means that we will get more terror and more hate. And of course, it is never their fault. In many ways, Muslims are just doing what their great moral example did 1400 years ago. Accounts in the Islamic hadiths clearly tell us that Mohammud tortured, enslaved, murdered and promoted rape. He even beat his favorite wife. And these stories were written by his friends and followers.

India and the West are on the front lines of the war with terror – make no mistake about it. I just hope that India’s leaders are more courageous and more honest than those in the West. We must be honest with Muslims and tell them the things they don’t want to hear – it is the only way that a greater, bloodier conflict can be avoided. No more excuses.

I am pessimistic. I don’t think Muslims will change and I don’t think there are enough moderates in the Islamic world to make a difference. Things are going to get worse!

Radical Muslims kill, moderates make excuses.

John Kactuz

PS: Don’t count on the West to help India, they are too PC and too afraid of Islam. The West has gone to bed with the devil and now they have to pay the price. Will India’s leaders speak up?

I’d really like to see what Al-Moyaed (the bahrain-based company that employed Suryanarayana) is gonna be doing for the family.

I’m really hoping that the family gets what they deserve in terms of fiancial aid, but no matter how much they are compensated, it won’t bring back a father and husband.

Secondly, considering that Mona AlMoyaed, one of the family members of the business, is the chairman of the MWPS (Migrant Workers Protection Society) here in Bahrain, am sure she for starters will ensure that the family gets their rights.

Another interesting point that’s been raised is the security that companies here have in place for their employees deployed to operations in foreign countries, this is something that the Labor Ministry here is going to be looking into, also expected is a couple of heads to roll at the company — it’s one of Bahrain’s major fmaily-owned businesses.. questions are going to be asked as to what type of security clearance permits the company had obtained to work in Afghanistan… next few days will be interesting to watch…

Also.. did anyone see that there’s a second wife claiming for compensation.. she says she married the engineer 2 years ago.. i smell money rat here..
http://ww1.mid-day.com/news/nation/2006/may/136411.htm

It’s also probably high time that a couple of us based here do a collablog on what foreigners coming to Bahrain should expect in terms of working & conditions, possibly a snag watch on the companies employing foreign labor…

anyone interested, this is something that foreign rights groups here would ecourage and local rights groups welcome…. the middle east isn’t always what it seems to be… not a bed of roses…

Vivek, that isn’t my point at all. Obviously support needs to be provided. But my point was about those blaming the Indian govt. for inaction etc. My point was also about those who choose to work in dangerous locations. The risks of working in such places are too obvious to ignore.