Our families in India being harassed: UAE-settled Keralites

Thiruvananthapuram, March 10 : A group of Keralites settled in the UAE have complained to the union home minister and the Kerala chief minister that their families in India are being harassed over delayed payments of credit cards issued in Dubai.

"Due to the financial crisis in recent times, many of us lost jobs and some are working on reduced salaries, hence some of us could not pay on time. It cannot be considered a wilful default," said the letter addressed to Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram and Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan.

The credit card companies, "through their call-centres, are making calls to our relatives, including women, in our native places. The services of goons are also being used to threaten the women at home. This is a serious violation of human rights," said the complaint that has been signed by more than 50 people.

Copies of the letter have been marked to union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan Leader of Opposition Oommen Chandy and the director general of police here.

Speaking to IANS Balakrishnan said he is yet to receive the complaint.

"Certainly, I will look into the matter when I get the complaint. Already rules here are very clear that the law cannot be taken into their hands by anyone. Recovery proceedings if done against the prescribed laws amounts to violation. That law is already in place here on how recovery proceedings can be conducted," Balakrishnan said.

The state government last year came out with stringent laws after several complaints surfaced of people being harassed by agents over delayed payments.