Consular Fee Hike Reports False, Says Indian Embassy
The Indian Embassy in Bahrain has dismissed reports of a proposed increase in consular service fees, stating that no such hike has been implemented.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the embassy clarified, 'There has been no increase in the fees for various consular services rendered in Bahrain as claimed.
' It urged all parties to avoid spreading unverified or speculative information, warning that such reports could cause inconvenience to the Indian community and affect the efficient delivery of services.
Meanwhile, Pravasi Legal Cell (PLC), the non-governmental organisation that filed a representation to India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) over the alleged proposal, said it has not yet received a response from the ministry.
The controversy stemmed from media reports, including a column published in the Delhi edition of The Pioneer on February 24th by senior journalist BK Jha.
Titled 'Steep hike in passport & visa services abroad: A big blow to blue-collar workers', the article highlighted concerns over the alleged fee increase.
A separate report in The Times of India on February 25th by Ch Sushil Rao, titled 'MEA urged to roll back Gulf consular service fee hike', cited migrant rights activist Bheem Reddy Mandha and former MLA Anil Eravathri, who both expressed concerns about the impact of the reported fee hike on Indian expatriates.
Bheem Reddy Mandha told TDT that outsourcing contracts for consular services are being renewed in 29 countries, including the GCC.
He stated that there is an assumption that the fees for consular services may be increased, and no published MEA proposal exists on this.
Nevertheless, the issue will be raised through MPs in the upcoming session of the Indian parliament to get a clarification from the MEA on whether the fees will be increased or not, he said.
Meanwhile, KC Venugopal, a senior leader of India's Opposition party Indian National Congress, has called on the MEA to clarify. In a post on X, he stated, 'A vast majority of our NRI brothers and sisters live paycheck to paycheck, so that they can send most of their earnings back home.
The latest RFP for Consular, Passport and Visa services (CPV) at Indian missions abroad will impose a massive burden on these workers and appears designed to benefit private service providers.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
3 days ago
- Daily Tribune
Modi says Trump did not mediate Pakistan ceasefire
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Donald Trump that the ceasefire between New Delhi and Pakistan last month was worked out directly, a top Indian diplomat said yesterday. The US president had said that the two nuclear-armed neighbours had agreed to end a fourday conflict on May 10 after "a long night of talks mediated by the United States". sfdsaf It was their worst standoff since 1999, with more than 70 people killed in missile, drone and artillery fire on both sides. Officials from Islamabad and New Delhi confirmed the ceasefire on May 10, minutes after Trump posted the announcement on his Truth Social network. Indian officials said immediately that the ceasefire was worked out bilaterally, not with Washington. India's top career diplomat, Vikram Misri, said in a video statement on Wednesday that the leaders had spoken by telephone after Trump left early from the G7 summit in Canada, which Modi also attended. sff "Prime Minister Modi clearly conveyed to President Trump that at no point during this entire sequence of events was there any discussion, at any level, on an India-US Trade Deal, or any proposal for a mediation by the US between India and Pakistan," Misri said, speaking in Hindi. "The discussion to cease military action took place directly between India and Pakistan through the existing channels of communication between the two armed forces, and it was initiated at Pakistan's request." The last time Modi and Trump spoke was just after the April 22 attack on tourists in Indian-administrated Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan -- claims Islamabad denied. Misri repeated New Delhi's long held view that "India does not and will never accept mediation". He added that Trump said he would visit India for the next Quad alliance, the grouping that also includes Japan and Australia, expected later this year. "President Trump accepted the invitation and said that he is looking forward to visiting India", Misri added. The talks between the leaders come as India seeks to secure an interim agreement to shield it from the worst of Trump's socalled reciprocal tariffs, which are set to kick in July after a 90-day-pause. New Delhi is not an export powerhouse, but it ran up a $45.7 billion trade surplus with the United States in 2024. Analysts have indicated that tariff risks could impact India's economic outlook, with industry groups in sectors like gems and jewellery warning of potentially significant job losses.
Daily Tribune
4 days ago
- Daily Tribune
Indian PM visits Croatia with EU trade on agenda
AFP | Zagreb Narendra Modi will visit Croatia today, the first time an Indian prime minister has toured the Balkan nation, in a sign of increasing ties with the European Union. Modi will visit the EU member on his way back from the G7 Summit in Canada, following an earlier stop in Cyprus. Croatian newspaper Vecernji List reported on Tuesday that a key focus of discussions will be a proposed trade route between Europe, the Middle East and India -- an investment touted to rival Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative. "As the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Croatia, it will open new avenues for bilateral cooperation," Modi said in a statement ahead of the trip. He will meet Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenkovic and President Zoran Milanovic in Zagreb during a visit that was initially scheduled for mid-May, but got pushed back because of an escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan. European leaders are increasingly looking to other trading partners in response to US President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on the bloc, which are now flagged to increase in July. The EU is India's second-largest trading partner, accounting for 120 billion euros (US$138 billion) worth of trade in goods in 2024 -- more than 11 percent of total Indian trade, according to the EU. First proposed in 2023, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor would be a railway and maritime route linking the regions and is seen as a potential counter to growing Chinese investment. Although trade between India and Croatia remains relatively small, Croatia, suffering from a chronic workforce shortage, has been attracting more Indian workers. China has pumped billions of dollars into the Balkans in recent years to expand its economic footprint in central Europe.
Daily Tribune
6 days ago
- Daily Tribune
India relocates students in Iran as Israel strikes
New Delhi said Monday its diplomats were helping some Indian students relocate out of harm's way in Iran, which has come under days of deadly Israeli bombardment. Tehran has hit back with strikes against Israel since it unleashed waves of attacks against Iran on Friday, sparking global alarm that the conflict could erupt into a regional war. New Delhi, which has relations with both countries, has sought to relocate its citizens within Iran after Tehran closed its airspace. "The Indian Embassy in Tehran is continuously monitoring the security situation and engaging Indian students in Iran to ensure their safety," a foreign ministry statement said. "In some cases, students are being relocated with (the) Embassy's facilitation to safer places within Iran," the ministry added. There are around 10,000 Indian citizens in Iran, according to government data last year, while figures from 2022 listed more than 2,000 students in Iran. New Delhi on Friday said it stood ready "to extend all possible support" to both countries, as it urged them to "avoid any escalatory steps". "Existing channels of dialogue and diplomacy should be utilised," said foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal. Iran's health ministry has reported at least 224 people killed in Israeli strikes, while Israeli authorities have tallied more than a dozen deaths since Tehran began its retaliatory attacks Friday.
