New Delhi: In a story of human values emerging triumphant over bizarre and apathetic roadblocks erected by bureaucratic red tape, in the early hours of Monday, the family of Kamlesh Bhatt finally received the last remains of the worker in Abu Dhabi, UAE, who had passed away due to cardiac arrest on April 17.
This was the second time 23-year-old Bhatt’s last remains had travelled to India.
The first time was on April 23 after the body that was flown from Etihad Airport to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, was not allowed by Indian officials to be handed over to his relatives citing government notifications and rules that prohibited cargo from abroad in the backdrop of the COVID 19 pandemic that is raging across the world.
This was despite complete documentation and adherence to all legal formalities required for repatriation of human remains to India as laid down by the external affairs ministry.
Advocates Rituparn Uniyal and Abhishek Kumar, who had taken up Bhatt’s case, had pleaded: “In a most inhumane, insensitive and unexpected conduct of the respondents, the human remains of the deceased were sent back to UAE on the same flight without citing any order/notification/circular or furnishing any medical report by a medical officer or giving any explanation or reason to the petitioner who kept praying for handing over of the mortal remains of his 24-year-old younger brother.”
ETV Bharat’s story highlighting the humanitarian tragedy had played an important role in bringing the heart-breaking incident to the notice of the authorities.
While the Delhi High Court issued notice to the Central government for sending back Bhatt’s body, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an order on Saturday permitting entry of mortal remains of Indian nationals and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) from foreign countries by obtaining an ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the health ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
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Terming the bizarre developments of the past few days as ‘shameful’, Vimlesh Bhatt, the deceased’s cousin brother, told ETV Bharat: “This was a clear case of lack of coordination among ministries. I got my brother's body only because of ETV Bharat and other media platforms which brought this matter in the front of government. I hope that ETV Bharat will keep doing its ground level journalism so that the common people's voice reaches to the government… I also thank the Delhi High Court which intervened in the matter.”
Kamlesh Bhatt's last rites will be performed today at Tehri's Purnanand Ghat.
(Reported by Md. Tauseef Ahmad, ETV Bharat reporter)
