Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi today charged the Centre with not responding to his letter on the plight of Indian workers stranded in Angola after they protested against the management of a cement factory for non-payment of wages.
"It is almost 24 hours after I wrote a letter to the Prime Minister but the Centre has not responded. It has not even said that we will look into the issue," Modi said after visiting the father of one of the stranded workers.
"Nowhere in the world you will find such a government which does not care for its citizens who have gone abroad", Modi alleged.
Modi on Saturday visited the family of Vijay Valmiki, one of about 1,200 Indians working with Sumbe Cement Factory in Angola. There are at least 40 from Gujarat.
Vijay was taken to Africa with the promise of a salary of Rs 32,000 per month. Satishbhai Marfat, a Vadodara-based agent of ETA Star International, had sent youths from Gujarat to Africa.
Most of the Indian workers at the factory were reportedly recruited by a Chennai-based firm.
{{/usCountry}}Most of the Indian workers at the factory were reportedly recruited by a Chennai-based firm.
{{/usCountry}}Angolan police reportedly opened fire on the Indian workers who were protesting non-payment of salaries for six months, beat them, and put a few in jail, while others had to take shelter in nearby forests, sources said.