Digital Desk: Following a third high-level discussion on the Ukraine situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to dispatch four ministers to Ukraine’s border countries to help better manage the evacuation of Indian nationals from the war-torn country.
Reportedly, Jyotiraditya Scindia will visit Romania and Moldova, while Kiren Rijiju will visit Slovakia, Hardeep Singh Puri will visit Hungary, and Gen. V. K. Singh (retd.) will visit Poland.
While the Ministry of External Affairs has set up helplines and officials have been stationed at border checkpoints in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Moldova, the rush at these checkpoints, particularly on the Poland-Ukraine border, has resulted in clashes and a two- to three-day wait in subzero temperatures. On Sunday evening, the Indian government announced the launch of a bus service to transport Indian citizens through the checkpoints.
According to the government source, while private airlines, including Indigo and SpiceJet, have also scheduled evacuation flights, the presence of Ministers could help with some of the paperwork required to finish the process.
Political leaders from all parties have written to PM Narendra Modi or highlighted the issue of Indian nationals being evacuated from all parts of the country. Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba spoke with the Chief Secretaries of several states and requested that District Collectors contact family members of Indian nationals in Ukraine to alert them of the evacuation plans.
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