It is all right for the passports etc. to be issued but who is paying the fare for the 8 or so people who are queing up to travel for the funeral. If it is the Indian government, will it do the same for the relatives of any Indian national who loses his/her life abroad in the course of a visit, in a tragedy? Before anyone blackballs me let me remind them that Loganathan was an American citizen and the potential for garnering publicity from a high profile tragedy is not sufficient reason for the largesse. My rant is only in case my premise is valid or else, my apologies for casting aspersions on the government.
RE:Who is paying?
by Gopi nath on Apr 18, 2007 03:32 PM Permalink
We must realise something important here...whether NRI's remember motherland or not, NATION does not let any NRI feel alone..that too when Indian abroad is in trouble...SO..whether NRI's serve motherland or not, INDIA will always tell the world that she cares a lot for her children.....and no NRI will be left orphan abroad.....Can you please understand the spirit in this...thanx a ton !!! Jai Hind
RE:Who is paying?
by kishore on Apr 18, 2007 03:40 PM Permalink
GopiNath , Sorry to say this , but we Resident Indian taxpayers don't get the service for the amount of money we pay as taxes . We don't have proper roads , & basic amenities ,So it plain sucks when our money is deviated to all such unnecessary incidents . I know it sounds hard , but I believe the serving the living is better than serving the dead .
RE:Who is paying?
by Soumitro Miukherjee on Apr 18, 2007 06:03 PM Permalink
I read Mr.GopiNath's comment independent of this 'who is paying' issue and had complimented his sentiments. However, I do not think the government would be paying for th trip (or should be) considering the larger issues involved. It is however fair to assist the bereved family in getting their passports ASAP, which I believe they do go out of their way to issue, when someone needs them under such trying times.
RE:Who is paying?
by Tony on Apr 18, 2007 03:40 PM Permalink
It is all right for the passports etc. to be issued but who is paying the fare for the 8 or so people who are queing up to travel for the funeral. If it is the Indian government, will it do the same for the relatives of any Indian national who loses his/her life abroad in the course of a visit, in a tragedy? Before anyone blackballs me let me remind them that Loganathan was an American citizen and the potential for garnering publicity from a high profile tragedy is not sufficient reason for the largesse. My rant is only in case my premise is valid or else, my apologies for casting aspersions on the government.
RE:Who is paying?
by on Apr 18, 2007 03:45 PM Permalink
I completely agree with Paramesh. Why on earth should India take the intiative of arranging Prof Loganathan's family to US. It is the responisbility of US for taking care of the travel arrangement of next kin of one of its deceased citizen. BTW, it is high time india policy makers make passport a mandatory document something similar to IT PAN Card.
RE:Who is paying?
by bharat on Apr 18, 2007 03:47 PM Permalink
Compulsory passports? It will be a logistics nightmare for the passport office. Have you forgotton the Election Commission ID card fiasco a few years back? Processing passport papers of such a hugh population is an unmanageable task!
