New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged his Cabinet colleagues to 'get down to work' immediately after their portfolios were announced. Heeding his advice 60-year-old V Muraleedharan, who was appointed as the Minister of State for External Affairs and for Parliamentary Affairs, assumed office within hours of his induction into the NDA II ministry.
The Rajya Sabha MP from Maharasthra is the third BJP minister from Kerala after O Rajagopal and Alphons Kannanthanam.
The party has placed on me a huge responsibility, he noted. In an interview after taking charge, he also talked about the issues concerning the Indian diaspora that require urgent attention and the importance of getting the Centre and the state administrations to work in tandem as his main tasks as minister.
Excerpts from an interview:
Kerala, which has a huge population working abroad, will be monitoring closely your performance as the minister of State for External Affairs. You will be working under a Cabinet minister who has broad experience in foreign affairs and migration issues. What are your expectations?
No doubt, the portfolio carries massive responsibilities. Kerala has a huge migrant population. Gulf Malayalees have been complaining about the steep hike in airfares during vacations and the Ramadan season. Our immediate focus will be on addressing this issue.
Is it possible to stop airlines companies from charging exorbitant fares? There is a long-standing request to bring down the charges for flying human remains as well.
This issue comes under the purview of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Actions will be initiated in consultation with the ministry. Efforts will also be made to convince airline operators to put an end to such practices. These are among some of the long-pending issues that call for immediate action. A majority of the expatriates cannot afford that cost. We will bear that in mind while addressing these grievances.
Job security is one of the major concerns for expatriate employees. How are you going deal with this issues?
The MADAD (help) portal launched by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) provides a platform for Indian citizens living abroad to file consular grievances online. As I was on the Standing Committee for External Affairs, I have a clear idea about the issues faced by expatriates. Recently, 52 Keralites got stranded in Dubai after the company which employed them ceased operations. When the issue was brought to my attention, I immediately contacted the then external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. The Indian Consulate intervened and issued outpasses to all of them to ensure their safe return.
Voting right for NRIs continues to be a pipe dream. Will their aspirations materialise in the near future?
The proposal to give voting rights to NRIs is under the consideration of the Central government. The government is also planning to introduce the Emigration Bill. It is currently pending parliamentary approval. They will be implemented in a time-bound manner.
You are also the minister of state for Parliamentary Affairs. Isn't it an added responsibility?
Of course. Both External Affairs Minister S Jayashankar and Parliamentary Affairs ministers Prahlad Joshi are very experienced. As the BJP does not have majority in the Rajya Sabha, the ruling front will have to take the Opposition into confidence for formulating policies. I hope my experience as the party whip in Rajya Sabha would also come in handy.
How do you react to the decision to give you a ministerial post despite the BJP’s failure to win a single seat from Kerala?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stands firmly for building the spirit of 'Team India' to take the country forward. It will definitely bring in positive changes in Kerala too. As a BJP minister, I would also make efforts to strengthen the party in the state. I'm sure the central government's welfare schemes will help us win people's confidence here.
Isn't the Kerala government's attitude towards the Centre an issue?
The prime minister has always maintained that states and the Centre must work together to forge a model of cooperative federalism and chart a common course to progress and prosperity. That's why all the chief ministers are invited to attend the NITI Aayog meetings. As a central minister, I'm not looking to confront the state government. We are not bothered about the attitude of CPM, the main ruling party in Kerala. The idea of 'cooperative federalism' is all about the partnership involving the Centre and the central governments.
Will your ministership change equations in the party's state unit?
The central leadership will continue to take the key decisions pertaining to the state unit. The leadership will intervene when it is necessary. I believe this ministership is a recognition to the entire Kerala.
Will Kerala get another minister in NDA 2?
The new cabinet has 58 ministers. There is every possibility of an expansion sooner than later. It is up to the leadership to take a call.
