Maldives refusing work permits to Indians is national issue: Kerala Chief Minister

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called on Indian authorities to consider Maldives' refusal to renew work permits of Indians as a national issue.

The Kerala chief minister sent a letter to India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday, amid increasing reports of Maldives denying work permits and visas to Indian citizens.

In the letter, Vijayan noted that there are "over 30,000 Indians working in various sectors in Maldives", adding that a number of them are from Kerala.

"A large section of them are from Kerala. The state and the people have also recorded the role played by Kerala in the economy of the island," reads the letter seeking 'immediate relief for Indians in Maldives'.

The letter further asked Minister Swaraj to consider it "a national issue" and to "intervene" in order to solve the crisis.

India's 'The Hindu' has reported that the Indian government is treating the issue “with utmost importance".

Member of Parliament from Kerala, Shashi Tharoor, who is also the Chairman of the External Affairs consultative committee, also expressed concern over the matter, noting that “it is a real pity that relations with the Maldives have been so poorly handled that Indians are suffering.”

Earlier this month, Maldives ruling party's parliamentary group leader was denied entry to India, after landing at Chennai International Airport. MP Ahmed Nihan accused India of bullying him for his political beliefs.

Relations between Maldives and India has been shaky lately, especially with China's growing influence in the archipelago nation. Things have gotten so bad that Maldives has asked India to take back the two helicopters it had gifted, and a prominent member of the ruling party was denied entry into India last week.