Shri Vinod Tawde, my friend and senior Minister in Maharashtra Government telephone me on Sunday, the 19th May, 2019 at around 05.00 PM. He told me that his friend Shri Avadhoot Pai along with his family has gone on tour of European countries. Vinod said –
“Kirit, my friend Avadhoot has lost his whole family’s passport along with purse. Now Avadhoot is in panic."
Vinod added that Avadhoot said -
“Vinodji majhe packet, passport sab chori ... gale eta ante kay hone, ami Brussels Belgium Madhye ahot.”
I asked Vinod to send me Avadhoot Pai’s phone number. I immediately phoned Avadhoot who was in Brussels. He sent me details at around 05.09 PM.
Reproducing our communication (Whats App)
“This is Avadhoot Pai ref Vinod Tawde, I am along with family are in great trouble at Brussels (Belgium) we have been robbed at Brussels we lost our passport and all id cards. If you can help with Indian embassy it will be great help, I have WhatsApp you all documents.”
Ok.
Shri Avadhoot Pai from Mumbai along with his wife and son has gone on tour. While in Brussels he got robbed, his money, passport, all important documents were lost. It was Sunday. He tried to contact few people but being holiday not able to get anybody. In such situation an Indian family usually get panicked, nobody to help, difficult to have dialogue, cannot understand what to do.
As Avadhoot is a good friend of public representative Shri Vinod Tawde, Minister of the BJP Government of Maharashtra, he immediately called Vinod and asked for help. Vinod immediately contacted me and things started moving. After having interaction with Shri Vinod Tawde (Mumbai) and Shri Avadhoot Pai (Brussels, Belgium) I contacted important persons in External Affairs Ministry, Delhi; Indian Consulate, Brussels and my Secretary Shi Pankaj Bisht at Delhi and action started.
- The incident took place on Sunday, the 19th May, 2019, four days before the counting of elections results.
- Immediately I contacted Shri Vijay Dwivedi, Additional Private Secretary to the then External Affairs Minister, Smt. Sushma Swaraj. Shri Vijay Dwivedi responded me immediately, asked me to send details. Given below the communication with Shri Vijay Dwivedi.
Dear Shri Vijay Ji
As directed by Dr. Kirit Somaiya, MP and chairman standing committee on labour regarding Mr. Avadhoot family who is lost his Passport in Brussels…
Reproducing the message (Whats App) here
- Shri Vijay Dwivedi responded me immediately to send details. Within few minutes Vijay responded me. “9819955555 Avdhoot Pai robbed at Brussels Belgium, lost passports.”
Dear Shri Vijay Ji
As directed by Dr. Kirit Somaiya, MP and chairman standing committee on labour regarding Mr. Avadhoot family who is lost his Passport in Brussels…
Message from Ambassador Brussels – (Reproduced here)
Add paragraph text here.
- I also continued communication with my Delhi Secretary, Shri Pankaj Bisht, the interaction is as under:-
This is Avadhoot Pai ref Vinod Tawde, I am along with family are in great trouble at Brussels we lost our passport and all id cards. If you can help with Indian embassy it will be great help, I have WhatsApp you all documents.
Given below the communication.
Shri Pankaj sent details to the officers of Ministry of External Affairs. He was also in touch with Shri Vinod Tawde, Shri Birender Singh Rawat and Shri Avadhoot Pai.
Shri Vijay Dwivedi interacted with Shri Rawat, the concerned officer in the Indian Consulate at Brussels, Belgium.
Pankaj also sent telephone number of Shri Rawat to me and asked me to contact him. Shri Rawat responded within half an hour of interaction. Shri Rawat assured me that Mr. Pai will be given full assistance and they will be taken care of him.
Meanwhile, I was also in communication with Shri Avadhoot Pai and also with Shri Vinod Tawde. My interaction with Shri Vind Tawde is given below.
Maz External Affairs Ministry and Avdhoot Pai si bolne zale….Kam ho jayega.
Work done Coordination completed. Mr. Birender Singh Rawat attache consular Brussels 0032-476-748-575 also talked with Avdhoot Pai
Kya baat hai sir jee gr8
Vinod Tawde’s conversation given below.
At 5.27 PM I informed Shri Vinod Tawde that I have communicated with External Affairs Ministry’s officials and also with Shri Avadhoot Pai.
At 5.57 PM. I once informed Shri Vinod Tawde that “work done, coordination completed.......”
At 6.03 PM Vinod responded “Kya baat hai sir jee gr8”. Such appreciation and compliments from a colleague/senior leader of BJP pushed up to go on doing good things.
At 7.30 PM Shri Vijay Dwivedi sent me the message received from the Indian Consulate, Brussels.
Message from Ambassador Brussels.
“Ma’am, Rawat has already spoken to the individual and they will come to office tomorrow morning. Suitable travel document will be issued…..”
Vijay sent this message to me.
At around 05.00 PM communication started and at 07.32 PM the round completed.
At 05.00 PM message, communication from Shri Avadhoot Pai - I am robbed, lost my passport.
At 07.32 PM Ambassador from Brussels informed Shri Pai has been contacted.
Sometime, passport/purse in that country often stolen from hotel, Similar incidents take place when we are in public transport, bus, metro, train, we get panicked.
What is needed - to contact appropriate person, to approach local police, Indian Consulate/Embassy and send communication to the officers in Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
The then Hon’ble External Affairs Minister, Smt. Sushma Swaraj and Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi asked and motivated all Indian Embassies/Consulates and officers in External Affairs Ministry to take care of such Indians.
Yes, I accept, always the systems may be not that much positive. For common man, it is very very difficult to find appropriate person and also to get positive response, but there are positive people also.
Shri Avadhoot Pai along with his wife & son went to the Indian Consulate, Brussels next day (28th May, 2019) morning and within a few hours he was handed over the travel documents. Shri Pai telephoned me from the Indian Consulate, Brussels and thanked me.
“Kirit Bhai aap ki karan hi hum India wapas aa rahe hain. App mujhe hamesa yaad rahoge.” - Avdhoot
- Kirit Somaiya