The Prime Minister’s trip to Riyadh next month should strengthen security, energy and trade ties, and also address the many serious concerns of Indian workers in the West Asian kingdom
Apart from the bilateral and multilateral issues that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will discuss with the King of Saudi Arabia Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and others, during his two-day visit to the West Asian nation next month, it is likely that he will also talk about how India can either join or help the 34-nation Saudi-led Islamic alliance to nullify the Islamic State terror group.
Saudi Arabia formed the alliance in December 2015, without India. This, even as India has a large Muslim population. Further, India has suffered greatly due to terrorism. It has also lost two Prime Ministers to terrorism. Surprisingly, neighbours such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Mauritius, were included in the alliance. While it is not clear if India wants to be part of the Islamic group,it would definitely like to help out.
India and Saudi Arabia are on the same page on the issue of tackling terrorism. After the Pathankot air base attack, New Delhi called Riyadh for assistance and cooperation. The latter did not disappoint. Important intelligence information was shared by Saudi Arabia quietly. Indeed, India-Saudi security cooperation has only improved in the past years. Recently, Saudi Arabia deported to India, what sources claim, was an important terror suspect plotting a big attack against this country.
Further, the Prime Minister will also raise the issues that the Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia faces. These issues require immediate attention. Indian nationals form a significant part of the Saudi Arabian workforce — both blue- and white-collar workers.
The harsh working conditions of Saudi Arabia are no secret. Workers from India make their way to Saudi Arabia and to other Gulf nations to earn money, but the reality in that country is different from what is promised by recruitment agencies here. The workers mostly hail from the States of Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Tamil Nadu.
Among the worst-affected are the construction workers. This writer gets complaints from Indian workers against Saudi employers who are either not paying the wages agreed upon or physically abusing their employees. The worst part is that in many cases, employers retain the passports of their workers who are then forced to live in appalling conditions. Moreover, workers hardly get health or insurance benefits.
Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, during Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir’s recent visit to India, strongly took up the issues faced by Indian workers in Saudi Arabia. India has been urging that the existing labour agreement with Saudi Arabia be expanded to include sectors other than domestic workers. India must take up issues associated with the migrant workforce sooner than later. Other countries, like Indonesia are already doing so.
Indian embassies in Saudi Arabia and other countries that host large numbers of Indians need to be pro-active. During the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, many Indian-origin people from countries like Malaysia, Uganda and Kenya narrate hair-raising stories as to how they face discrimination in their adopted countries. This author has been told by many Persons of Indian Origin from Malaysia that while the Chinese Government takes up the issues of their people without delay, the Government of India’s response is lukewarm.
Apart from terrorism and diaspora, it is important to note that Saudi Arabia is India’s fourth largest trade partner — bilateral trade was $40 billion in 2014-2015. As long as India imports 80 per cent of its oil, India cannot displease a major oil supplier like Saudi Arabia.
Due to its massive energy deficit, India is banking on countries like Saudi Arabia to fuel the eight per cent growth rate it has set for itself. And Saudi Arabia has never shied away from exporting crude to India. It has always been willing to sell any amount of oil —no conditions attached — and it will continue to do so even if India falls behind on payments. Notably, it shows this kind of generous attitude towards India even as the US becomes energy self-sufficient. Now, the biggest markets for Saudi oil will be India, China and Japan. This alone will make India want to bolster its relations with Saudi Arabia.
That India gives tremendous importance to Saudi Arabia, was evident when Vice President Hamid Ansari attended the funeral of the previous King and the Government of India announced a day of mourning on the occasion. At that time, many asked: Why should India give such importance to a country that has no respect for human rightsIJ They possibly forget that Saudi Arabia is a large oil exporter and houses two of the holiest of Islamic sites, Mecca and Medina.
One hopes that following the Prime Minister’s visit, India and Saudi Arabia will address outstanding matters and cement a unique relationship.
(The writer is a Rajya Sabha MP)