Operation Ganga: 'Our priority is to evacuate everyone safely', says Kiren Rijiju

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who is currently in Slovakia to keep an eye on the evacuation process of Indians trapped in Ukraine said that he well not leave till the last Indian national is safely evicted from the war-ravaged nation.

Apart from Rijiju, Hardeep Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Gen V K Singh are the four special envoys sent to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to oversee the evacuation process and help Indian students.

Talking with Indian students who reached Kosice after crossing the Ukraineborder, the Union Law Minister said, "Our priority is to evacuate everyone safely. We have already given our assurance to everyone that we will evacuate every Indian safely. It is Prime Minister's direction that we will not leave anyone behind. Those who are in the war zone, there are some compulsions. Even our embassy staff cannot reach there since firing and bombardment is underway. So there are difficulties. The evacuation is not that easy. The circumstances are very challenging. But still, we are making efforts.

"Rijiju urged students to convey the message to their parents that the Government of India is doing everything to help them reach home safely. 

"I will not leave this place till the last Indian is evacuated from Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji has given a clear direction to secure our citizens and bring them home as soon as possible. India is the only country to carry out the rescue operation at this level," he said.

Taking to Twitter, Kiren Rijiju stated, "Good to see huge relief in the faces of our students who have reached Slovakia from Ukraine. All of them are given proper care and kept near Kosice in Slovakia. 189 of them are leaving tonight for India. Good to see the smiles on the face of our students after a long ordeal. Have a safe journey home. Good to see the smiles in the face of our students after a long ordeal."

A total of 17,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine since the advisories were issued and flights under Operation Ganga have been increased to facilitate the evacuation of remaining students stranded in Ukraine.

The students who left Ukraine also included some Indians who had not registered with the Embassy in Kyiv.

(With ANI inputs)

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