KOZHIKODE: The death of E Ahamed has robbed a passionate advocate of strong relation between India and Arab nations. Ever since turning a politician, the welfare of Indian citizens working in West Asian countries occupied a prime place in his priority list.
Irrespective of the political leanings of the governments at the Centre and state, this Muslim League leader was an inevitable member in diplomatic talks with the Arab countries. Ahamed served as the Special Emissary of Indira Gandhi to the West Asian countries in 1984 and anchored talks with the heads of those countries.
“Ahamed was able to uphold India’s image during this stint,” said Kerala Congress leader R Balakrishna Pillai, Ahamed’s Cabinet colleague in the 1984 K Karunakaran Government. “He also succeeded in projecting India as a secular nation in front of the West Asian countries,” Pillai said.
“The Union Government felt he was fully equipped to handle the role of India’s goodwill ambassador to the Gulf nations. He had made a fine name in international circle to fill this role. It shows the greatness of Ahamed sahib’s personality,” he said.