Siddaramaiah says Centre to blame for Haveri youth’s death in Ukraine

NT Correspondent

With several hundred Indians stuck in various parts of war-torn Ukraine pleading for their safe return to their motherland, the Congress on Wednesday blamed the BJP- led NDA government at the Centre for its ‘wrong’ and ‘callous’ policies that had resulted in students living in dangerous circumstances in the war zone.

Talking to reporters here on Wednesday, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah said several countries across the globe had arranged for the safe return of their nationals staying in Russia and Ukraine. But the Government of India did not bother to work in this direction till Russian President Putin announced the war on Ukraine last week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi failed to act swiftly when Putin dropped hints of waging war against Ukraine. Once the war broke out, hundreds of Indians were trapped and are unable to come out of their hideouts.

The former CM held the Central government responsible for the death of medical student Naveen Gyangoudar and said all that his parents had now were memories of their dear son. The statements of Naveen’s friends and parents clearly indicate the total failure of PM Modi and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar. Timely reaction and early evacuation of students would have saved Naveen. “Whatever may be our differences with the NDA government on its foreign policies, this is not the right time to comment on it. The need of the hour is to stand by any decision taken by the government in this connection. The list of failures of the NDA government will be released later but we will now support the Modi government on any stand they take on the war”.

The former CM recalled that Congress governments had brought back several thousands of Indians safely from the warzones in Iraq, Yemen and Libya by operating special flights. But the Congress party did not take credit for the massive evacuations as it felt it was part of their duty. But PM Modi wants to gain political mileage for every action of his government, he added.