Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy has urged the Ministry of External Affairs to request the government of United Arab Emirates to consider giving formal legal resident status to illegal immigrants from India who have been given the deadline of September 2 to leave that country.

"If this is not possible, the Ministry of External Affairs could at least explore the possibility of asking the government of UAE to extend the deadline by a year, so that these affected people can plan carefully for their repatriation to India without subjecting themselves and their families to too much economic hardship," Dr Reddy said.

In a letter to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday, Dr Reddy recalled that the UAE government has announced the deadline of September 3, 2007, for all illegal immigrants on its territory to come forward and present themselves for repatriation to their respective countries.

He urged Mukherjee to use his good offices with the UAE government for extension of the deadline.

"Among possible illegal immigrants from India living in the Emirates, there are also some from Andhra Pradesh. In view of the declaration made by the government of UAE, these people will be repatriated by the Indian Embassy and Consulate to India.

I fully appreciate the legality of this matter and the compulsions behind the government of UAE's decision to expel these illegal immigrants,"" Dr Reddy said.

"However, I would like to point out that there is a human angle to the problem and many of these illegal immigrants from Andhra Pradesh come from socially and economically deprived sections of the society.

They have been exploited by unscrupulous persons in India and UAE and have invested their meagre savings and earnings, hoping to gain a better living for themselves and for their families in India."

If they are repatriated immediately to India, many of them would be subjected to severe economic hardships," he added.

Reddy assured that the state government would take all necessary measures to ensure that people from this state going to UAE as well as other countries do not fall prey to exploitation by unscrupulous agents and are able to go abroad following proper legal procedures to the country of their choice for study or work.

Dr Reddy also urged the external affairs minister to take immediate steps for the safe return of all the Indians in general and those belonging to AP in particular.

The government of India issues emergency permits to those coming back under such circumstances and these are valid only at Delhi and Mumbai airports.

The chief minister wanted such a facility at Hyderabad airport also.

Minister for Energy, Wakfs and Minorities Welfare Mohammed Ali Shabbir said there were about 80,000 illegal workers from Andhra Pradesh working in the UAE.

The total number of illegal workers from India is 250,000. In case of the UAE government taking a tough stand, steps would be initiated for the safe return of the workers from AP staying without valid documents there.