In view of the volatile situation in West Asia, the Union government should urgently intervene and arrange more air services for expats to reach home during the festive season, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.
Wishing an Id-ul-Fitr greeting to all expatriates and their families here on Thursday, Mr. Vijayan said that Id is usually a happy festive season when expatriates return home in large numbers. This time, however, travel was interrupted for many due to the lack of sufficient flight services due to the escalation of tensions in West Asia. Even the available flights are overcrowded and charged exorbitantly, making the airfares beyond the reach of the common man. Another big concern is whether they will be able to return to their workplaces after returning home, he said.
There is a growing fear among them that they will have to face problems at work if they cannot return in time due to travel uncertainty. It is imperative to provide adequate flight services keeping in mind the special circumstances of the expatriate community in Kerala, he said. Addressing their concerns is much more of a responsibility than a social duty. Therefore, the concerned authorities should be ready to take immediate steps to create comfort and confidence in their minds during festive times like Id, he said.
Stating that the country will stand with its expatriate community in crisis, he said it is highly commendable that members of the Loka Kerala Sabha and expatriate organizations in the Gulf countries have come together to provide relief to the needy in this time of unrest. He hopes such interventions will be strengthened further, he said.
Published – March 20, 2026 0:07 AM IST
