A massive uproar took place at the venue where the ongoing mega NRI summit is taking place in Indore earlier today. Several NRIs were stopped from entering the hall of the Brilliant Convention Center before PM Narendra Modi's address. The Deputy Mayor of London was also stopped at the main gate.
Some of the NRIs who were barred from entry criticized the administration and organizer over the management. Indore’s MP Shankar Lalwani jumped to control the damage, however, videos from the spot went viral and several NRIs seemed furious over the arrangement.
The matter became so serious that CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan had to apologize from the stage in front of the PM. CM said- Sorry, the size of the hall has fallen short, but there is no shortage of space in the heart. At the event, the health of two NRIs who attended the conference deteriorated, they are undergoing treatment in a private hospital.
Watch the reaction of NRIs here:
Mismanagement at #17th_NRI_Meet at #Indore infuriated a #Jamican delegation #PrashantSingh.
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) January 9, 2023
"These guys (Indian Authorities) can't even manage 3,000 people how we can hope to become a global power," he lamented.#MadhyaPradesh #PravasiBhartiyaDivas #PravasiBhartiyaDivas2023 pic.twitter.com/QdjAgdbUe9
Entry was closed at 9.45 am when the hall of the Brilliant Convention Center was full. The capacity of the hall is to seat 2200 people, but more than 3000 people reached there. Some NRIs entered by forcefully opening the gate. They were again stopped at the big gate. In the scuffle, an NRI got hurt on his hand.
Jagdish Fabiani, who came from Spain, said We were not allowed inside even after reaching on time. They are saying that the capacity of the hall is full. Devesh Kumar Mishra, who came from Nigeria, said that we had arrived at 8.30. Wasn't allowed inside. If this is the case, we will go back.
Many NRIs were made to sit in the registration hall itself and were told to watch the program on the screen itself. London's Deputy Mayor (Business) Rajesh Agarwal reached the venue at 9.45 am. Agarwal was also barred from attending the main function of the event. Moreover, Agarwal was among the guest whose name was listed to have lunch with PM Modi after the event.
A 15-member delegation from Jamaica couldn’t enter the grand hall. The members from Jamaica also raised their disagreement over the arrangements. Prashant Singh, a member of the delegation while apprising media over the matter said, “A delegation comprising of Minister has come to take part in the NRI summit all in the name of India, we are not happy with the way we have been treated, this shouldn’t have happened, How come this can bring investment?”
Criticizing the Madhya Pradesh government he continued saying, “The Indian and MP government can’t even manage to handle the sitting arrangement of 3,000 people, and they tell to make India a global power, this event is a ‘tight slap’ on the management of the government.”
An NRI woman Julie Jain whose video is going viral over social media said, “ I have come from America and it is too disrespectful that after inviting us you are telling us to watch the proceeding on TV, had that been the case we would have watched this on our TVs at home. We came here at 8 in the morning, they said the halls are full now and closed all the doors.”
She added further, “People sitting inside are talking about ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, is this your Atithi Devo Bhava’, several people made up their minds of investing, however, they have changed their minds now. All of us came here for Modi Ji and we have to face all these mismanagements, I am too disappointed”