Panaji: AAP MLA Venzy Viegas on Monday called for the attention of ongoing legislative assembly session about the youngsters from India including Goa being detained in jails in the United States.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour on the floor of the House, Viegas drew attention of the House is drawn to the grave situation concerning a number of young individuals from India, including youth from Goa, who have been arrested and are currently detained in jails and immigration detention centers in the United States.
“These arrests are reportedly due to expired visas or lack of valid documentation,” he said.
Viegas said that it is disturbing to note that most of these detainees have not been able to contact their families back in India, leaving their loved ones in complete distress and uncertainty.
“These youth had primarily gone to the U.S. in search of employment opportunities due to limited job prospects in our own state and country,” the AAP MLA said.
Viegas said that this is a humanitarian issue requiring urgent government intervention. “I urge the Government to take up the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in the U.S., to Identify the detained individuals, Facilitate communication with their families, and Provide necessary legal and consular assistance,” the MLA said.
He said that steps must be initiated to address the root cause—unemployment—so that our youth are not forced to take such desperate measures.
“I request the Chief Minister to intervene and assure this House that suitable and immediate steps will be taken,” Viegas said.
Responding to the Zero Hour mention, Chief minister Pramod Sawant appealed the MLA to give details of the concerned youth so that the matter can be taken up with the central authorities.
