Vijayawada: The AP Non-Resident Telugu’s Association (APNRT's) questionable role has become the subject of discussion among the NRI TD wing. Netizens are alleging that a few companies are assuring H1B visas to AP and TS youth, by demanding huge amounts from them. Suspecting the role of APNRT behind this scam, NRI netizens have explained in their posts that these body shops are collecting $8,000 for H1B visas from poor students and youth of AP and TS.
They expressed concern that the CM is going to ink MoUs in the first week of May with these body shops, and want the AP Government to review its decision before the CM’ team takes off. However, IT minister Nara Lokesh has clarified that anyone can meet the CM’s delegation, as there are no restrictions. The minister also said no MoUs were signed by him earlier. An NRI questioning the integrity of few people of APNRT leadership, posted on his FB wall that a few companies of the IT Serv consortium have tried to engage a legal consultant to fight on the employment authorisation document (EAD; Form I-765) or EAD card, which was introduced by the Obama government, as it is affecting their backdoor revenues.
EAD, also known as a “work permit”, is a document issued by the Uni-ted States Citizenship and Immigration Servi-ces (USCIS) that provides temporary employment authorisation to non-citizens in the United States. Reacting sharply to observations levelled by the NRI supporters of TD, Mr Lokesh made several clarifications. Mr Lokesh said he has not signed MoUs with any companies. IT Serv had come forward to invest and the government might have signed an MoU. He added that IT investment worth '300 crore is good, and that small and medium enterprises are critical for the growth of the state.
Terming the NRIs’ observations on FB walls local politics, Mr Lokesh said Dr Ravi Vemuru was not out to make money. “He’s a wealthy doctor, who left his profession to help the state,” Mr Lokesh said, adding that APNRT is collecting money for villages and drinking water. When asked why NRIs are restricted from meeting the Chief Minister by APNRT, he said it was an open session and that anyone could come and meet him. “No issues, everyone can come and meet him... The issue is when people want to manage the CM’s programme. That has to be handled by one organisation. And we have designated APNRT for it,” the minister said.
When the NRI allegations were brought to the notice of APNRT president Dr Ravikumar Vemuru, he said that there are 5,000 free tickets for Dallas summit. "We have put only 100 tickets for sale," Dr Ravikumar clarified, calling the NRI observations baseless.
