It's government duty to make efforts to bring back our citizens: Congress

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) said it was the duty of the Centre to evacuate Indian citizens from war zones and that Indian governments in the past undertook successful large-scale evacuations of stranded Indians from many war zones "without indulging in partisan propaganda".

The main opposition party's statement came after many Union ministers turned up to address from the aircraft students returning from Ukraine and Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed, on the eve of the last phase of Uttar Pradesh polls, his government's "operation Ganga" for the evacuation of Indians from Ukraine.

"It is the duty of the Government of India to make all efforts to bring back our citizens and it is important to remember and recall that India has in the past undertaken successful large-scale operations by its Air Force and Navy to evacuate Indians during Gulf war, Lebanon, Libya and Iraq without indulging in partisan propaganda," said an AICC statement issued on Monday, when the evacuation of Indian students from Ukraine was reaching the last leg.


While expressing its alarm over "the escalation of military conflict in Ukraine" and concern for the safety of the stranded Indian students and citizens, the AICC also urged Russia, Ukraine and Nato to negotiate peace. "The Congress party earnestly appeals for an immediate end to all hostilities and the creation of geographically defined humanitarian corridors for safe evacuation respected by both sides. Russia, Ukraine and Nato must engage in sincere negotiations for restoring peace and a lasting resolution of all issues," it said.

Congress' Rahul Gandhi tweeted that the Centre had no plans to deal with the rupee at an all-time low, record unemployment and inflation.