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Social media exaggerating about food crisis: Keralites in Qatar

  • Close to 1.5 lakh Keralites reside in Qatar and most of them believe that the social media is creating panic, nothing else.
  • The cabinet meeting in Qatar made it clear that there would be no problems pertaining to food and it would be made available.
  • Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to PM Narendra Modi urging him to ensure that the Keralites in Qatar are safe.
Social media exaggerating about food crisis Keralites in Qatar

The recent hoopla over food crisis in Qatar after seven Gulf countries snapped diplomatic ties with it on Monday has been proved false by the resident Keralites in the country. Slamming the social media for creating panic among people, an activist CVM Vanimel said, "There is no situation of emergency as such here. The social media is twisting things, and maybe that led to a rush in the supermarkets here."

He further added, "The cabinet meeting held on Monday made it very clear that there be no reason for any panic as food items will be made available." He also said, "Given our understanding of things, hectic diplomatic efforts are currently on to ease the situation. The media should not go overboard as it creates panic.”

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain, Libya, the UAE and the Maldives severed all diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terror groups. However, Qatar denies the allegation. The countries have also closed their border to Qatar and have restricted all movements between the countries by road or by air. 

Passengers who landed at Kochi and Kozhikode airports on Tuesday morning, however said that things are under control there and there was no reason to panic. However, they were a little worried about the flight operations. Meanwhile, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to PM Narendra Modi urging him to ensure that the Keralites in Qatar are safe. Kerala local bodies minister KT Jaleel, speaking to the Hindustan Times said, "When schools are closed there and if foreign airlines are not operating, there would be problems. Air India should ensure operation of more flights. The already high price of air tickets during summer rush could shoot up even higher."

Till now Qatar Airways and Air India are operating flights to and from the three Kerala airports. An official said, "if additional flights are not run and present embargo against Qatar is not lifted, things could go haywire." Meanwhile, the banks and foreign exchange outlets have reportedly been directed not to exchange money for Qatari Riyal.

Close to 1.5 lakh Keralites reside in Qatar. Approximately 4.82 million Indians live in the Gulf, out of which 630,000 live in Qatar. 
 

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