MP seeks release of stranded Indian workers in Jordan

New Delhi, Dec 19 (UNI) A Marxist member today appealed to the government to initiate measures to repatriate nearly 200 Indian workers who were held up in Jordan.

Dr K S Manoj (CPM) told the Lok Sabha that Indian workers were stranded there following the closure of a factory in which they were working. The government closed the factory following some violation.

Out of the 200 detained workers, 60 were from Kerala.

During the zero hour, he said the government should take up the issue with the Indian embassy in Jordan and get the release of the workers who were stranded for no fault of theirs.

His party colleague from Kerala, Mr Varkala Radhakrishanan, earlier asked the government not to implement the Supreme Court suggestion to put the police force under the control of a commission. ''If the power to maintain law and order is entrusted to independent agency, there will be chaos,'' he said, pointing out that such a set up would also go against the principle of federalism enshrined in the Constitution.

Mr Radhakrishnan said the law and order was the state matter and should be retained as such.

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