The Janata Dal (United) on Monday downplayed External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's statement on Indian workers currently stuck in Saudi Arabia and said that bringing back labourers is of no use until the government provides them jobs.
JD(U) leader Anwar Ali Ansari said, "700 labourers went to Saudi Arabia for employment from Bihar and are now stranded there. They have not received salaries for the past eight months. She is saying that she will call them back, what is the point in bringing them back? If you call them back them you have to give them jobs as well, else they will remain jobless."
"The big question is what are the provisions the Centre is making in connection with providing them jobs, our demand is that all those labourers should get jobs, else bringing them back is of no use," he added.
Swaraj on Monday assured the Rajya Sabha that the government would make all arrangements to bring back the Indian workers currently stuck in Saudi Arabia.
She told the members that the Indian Mission in Riyadh has arranged free ration to the workers.
She said her Cabinet colleague Minister of State for External Affairs General (Retd.) V.K. Singh will travel to Saudi Arabia tomorrow to provide aid to the Indians affected due to food crisis.
Swaraj added the government will also take steps to ensure the Indian workers get their salaries.
