Channi requests Jaishankar to bring back all Indians

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Friday wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, requesting the Centre to evacuate Indians, including Punjabis, stuck in Ukraine following a Russian military offensive.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal, AAP’s Bhagwant Mann and Punjab Lok Congress president Amarinder Singh also appealed to the union government to ensure their safe return. In his letter to Jaishankar, Channi said: “I would like to bring to your notice that a number of students and other Punjabis are stranded in Ukraine. Their parents and family members are worried about their safety because of the situation which has developed there. They are facing a number of problems like place to stay, cash crunch etc.” He added: “While the evacuation may take some time, meanwhile, government of India may ensure safety of these people within Ukraine,” he said.

On Thursday, Channi had sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention for the rescue and safe return of the Indians stuck in Ukraine. AD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Friday urged Jaishankar to ensure the safety of Punjabi students trapped in Ukraine and their safe passage to India.

She shared a list of 33 students from Punjab with the government who are studying in colleges in Ukraine. She added there was a likelihood of more Punjabis being stranded in Ukraine, besides people from other states. Badal also reached out separately to Reenat Sandhu, Secretary (West) in the External Affairs Ministry, and requested that stranded Indian be helped through the embassy.

Earlier, AAP’s Punjab CM candidate Bhagwant Mann had appealed to the Centre to bring Indian students back and had also raised the issue of “multifold increase in air ticket prices.” Punjab Lok Congress president and former CM Amarinder Singh has also urged the central government “to put all mechanisms in place for the safe and early return of all our nationals stuck there.” PTI.