Mangaluru: Nine from coastal belt held in Kuwait for puja: MP Kateel

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 08, 2015: MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, on Nov 7, said that the authorities in Kuwait had detained nine persons from the coastal belt in connection with organising a ’Sathyanarayana puja’ a few weks back. They are members of Navachethana Welfare Association, Kuwait and are from Udupi and Dakshina Kannada and neighbouring Kasaragod.

Speaking media he said that as per information given to him, the organisers were detained following complaints from the locals over the puja. There was no ban in Kuwait for organising the puja.  Necessary permissions would were not obtained it seems.

Those detained include Ashok Kumar, president of the association, and office-bearers Yadav Poojary, Anil Kumar, Kumar Vamanjoor, Sathish Beluvai, Umesh Shetty, Arun Shetty, Prashanth Shetty, and Purushottam Kukyan.

The matter has been taken up theorugh the MEA - Union Ministry of External Affairs, he said.  MP Kateel said in addition to raising the issue with Sushma Swaraj, Minister for External Affairs, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Ananth Kumar too had been informed.  The MEA is in touch with Sunil Jain, Indian ambassador in Kuwait, and all efforts are being made to resolve the matter.