A large number of Indians are coming back.....
However, there would be issues and complaints in one form or the other. As expected there were ‘political challenges’ too as West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee, a known close aide of mercurial Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on May 14 made a very unrealistic but critical tweet.
“Is the MEA asking us to believe that there are enough people to come from Georgia to Gujarat but none want to come to Kolkata ? Also, there are enough people to come back to Bihar from Kyrgyzstan but not enough to bring back to Bengal?,” wrote Chatterjee.
MEA spokesman Srivastava quickly countered this saying –“MEA does not discriminate between states. GOI’s Vande Bharat Mission is for all stranded Indians, including those from West Bengal. Over 3700 of them have registered for repatriation from different parts of the world”.
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| Evacuation in London |
In another missive, the MEA spokesman responded: “Will gladly facilitate flights to Kolkata if state government will confirm arrangements to receive and quarantine. (MEA) will also help in return of WB residents through land borders with neighbours. We hope to receive an early response on the matter.”
“With the launch of the Vande Bharat Mission from 7th May, the massive government effort to respond to the Covid-19 situation entered a new phase. The Vande Bharat Mission is the largest and most complex exercise ever undertaken by the government for the repatriation of our nationals stranded overseas,” says Anurag Srivastava, spokesman in the Ministry of External Affairs.
“We are working very closely with the Ministries of Civil Aviation, Home Affairs, Health & Family Welfare as well as concerned state governments in this exercise,” he explains.
Between May 7 and 14, in fact as many as 12,000 Indian nationals have safely returned home.
“Fifty six flights have brought back our nationals from 12 countries.
In addition, 904 Indians were repatriated from Maldives by INS Jalashwa and INS Magar on 10th May and 12th May respectively. Some others have arrived through deportation flights from various countries,” adds Srivastava.
Meanwhile, government has indicated that the second phase of Vande Bharat Mission – to bring back home more Indians - will be launched between May 16 and 22 and the operation will help bring back stranded Indians from 31 countries.
Mission Sagar
Responding to their requests for assistance in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, Government of India sent Indian Naval Ship Kesari to Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles, carrying on board two Medical Assistance Teams, consignments of Covid related essential medicines and essential food items.
The consignments meant for Madagascar and Comoros also includes Hydroxychloroquine tablets, which have already been sent earlier to Mauritius, Maldives and Seychelles.
Similarly, playing a major role, India supplied medicines to African countries.
“This was in keeping with India’s traditionally strong bonds of friendship and solidarity with Africa, which has reached new heights in the last few years,” an official said.
India dispatched packages of medicines to more than 25 countries in Africa. This package of medicines includes hydroxychloroquine, paracetamol and other drugs which are immediately required to fight the pandemic. Prime Minister had telephonic conversation on April 17, 2020 with President Ramaphosa of South Africa, who is the current Chairperson of the African Union. PM also had a telephone conversation with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda.
Earlier during the month April 2020, External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar had also spoken to his counterparts in several African countries to reiterate India’s solidarity with African people in the fight against COVID-19.
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