India’s evacuation programme most energetic amongst all nations: Govt sources

By PTI

NEW DELHI: The central authorities on Tuesday in contrast its response to assist Indian residents in war-hit Ukraine with these of a number of different international locations, together with the US, the UK and China, vis-à-vis their nationals to say that whereas its ‘Operation Ganga’ continues and embassy stays purposeful, others have been unable to work at such a scale with some even expressing incapacity to assist their residents.

There has been criticism from some quarters, particularly opposition events, over the alleged delay in India’s response to evacuate its residents, principally college students, with some movies surfacing of Indian residents dealing with harassment.

Government sources shared response of assorted international locations to rebut criticism and assert that India has been immediate and relentless in serving to its residents.

“The Chinese have postponed their evacuation plans while the Indian Operation Ganga is proceeding. Flights from India into neighbouring countries are continuing to bring back Indians. China has issued no travel advisories and no support mechanisms, while India has released contact numbers, advisories and support mechanisms. Chinese nationals are being attacked in Ukraine while the buses with the Indian flag are being given safe passage,” a supply stated.

The US has acknowledged that it will be unable to evacuate its residents who’re dealing with a protracted ready time on the Ukrainian border for evacuation by means of different neighbouring international locations, authorities sources stated.

They cited official statements from the US and China moreover Chinese media reviews to again their claims.

At sure factors, the US requested its residents to even carry meals and different objects for 2 days on the Ukrainian border, and their ready scenario is just like that of Indian residents, they stated, including that each India and the US have issued comparable advisories and have launched a number of cellphone numbers for help.

Citing the response of different international locations, authorities sources stated Britain has clarified that it will be unable to offer elevated assist to its residents stranded in Ukraine whereas, they added, India has elevated assist on a conflict footing.

“The British embassy has relocated while the Indian embassy in Kyiv is still functioning. Britain has asked its nationals to follow the advice of Ukrainian authorities with no additional assistance,” a supply stated.

He quoted a press release of the UK authorities which stated, “Russia’s military action in Ukraine will severely affect the British Government’s ability to provide consular assistance in Ukraine. British nationals should not expect increased consular support or help with evacuating in these circumstances.”

Similarly, the German embassy has been closed at Kyiv whereas the Indian embassy remains to be purposeful.

Germany has stated that it’s not able to evacuate its residents, whereas India’s Operation Ganga, title of its evacuation train, is continuous, they stated.

“Over 80,000 international students study in Ukraine, according to data from Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science. The largest number come from India, followed by Morocco, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Nigeria. India’s evacuation programme, Operation Ganga, has been the most active among all nations which have their citizens in Ukraine,” a supply claimed.

Sources shared media reviews of assorted different international locations, together with Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria, to again their assertions.

Some opposition events, together with the Congress, have been criticising the federal government for not evacuating Indian college students in time from Ukraine and have known as for pressing steps to evacuate them, after Russia attacked Ukraine.

They have shared movies of Indian college students in Ukraine highlighting their plight and making appeals to the Indian authorities to evacuate them quickly.

Stepping up its evacuation efforts, India on Monday determined to ship 4 Union ministers to international locations in Ukraine’s neighbourhood as its “special envoys” to coordinate the evacuation of Indian college students.