THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has alleged that the stand of the State as well as the Central government is that expats need not come back to their homeland.

If Vande Bahart flights had operated services properly, more people would have come back. “Expats started arranging chartered flights as Vande Bharat services were regular. It was then the State government made negative Covid test certificate compulsory for expats. Through this, thousands of Malayalis have lost their opportunity to return to Kerala.

Neither the Loka Kerala Sabha nor NORKA has done anything for expats during this time. They have also not got any help from embassies.

The Truenat test mentioned by the chief minister is not in Saudi or any other country. The Central government has also not given sanction for it,” he said.

Chennithala said that thousands of expats are stuck in various labour camps as they have no money for even buying tickets. “Where can they get the certificate? Malayalis in Salalah says that they have to travel at least four days to conduct Covid test.”

Chennithala was speaking at the protest being held in front of the Secretariat, demanding steps by the State government to bring back expats