In a recent statement, Bharatiya Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention led to a brief pause in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, enabling the safe evacuation of Bharatiya students stranded in Ukraine.
The Defence Minister made these remarks during an election rally in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua, emphasizing the critical role played by the Prime Minister in securing the return of Bharatiya citizens amidst the ongoing war.
Singh highlighted the dire situation faced by Bharatiya students in Ukraine, where missiles were being fired from both Russia and Ukraine, resulting in numerous casualties. He stated that Prime Minister Modi personally engaged with the Presidents of Russia, Ukraine, and America to negotiate a temporary ceasefire, allowing for the evacuation of stranded students.
According to Singh, the pause in the conflict lasted for 4.5 hours, during which approximately 22,500 Bharatiya students were successfully evacuated from Ukraine and safely returned to Bharat. This action was part of the government’s efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens caught in the midst of the escalating hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been prominently featuring this rescue mission in its election campaigns as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to protecting Bharatiya nationals abroad. However, the opposition parties have dismissed these claims as mere propaganda aimed at garnering electoral support.
In response to the BJP’s campaign, Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the narrative propagated by the ruling party, labeling Prime Minister Modi’s involvement in halting the war as ‘Papa of Propaganda’. The opposition remains skeptical of the government’s portrayal of events surrounding the evacuation of Indian students from Ukraine.
Contrary to the claims made by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the BJP, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has refuted the notion that Prime Minister Modi’s intervention directly influenced the temporary ceasefire. Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the MEA, clarified that while the government provided assistance and guidance to Bharatiya citizens for their safe return, attributing the cessation of hostilities to coordinated efforts by the Indian government is inaccurate.
Bagchi emphasized that the government’s priority was to facilitate the evacuation of Bharatiya students through available routes and means, rather than negotiating with warring parties to halt the conflict. The MEA’s stance contradicts the narrative put forth by the Defence Minister and underscores the complexities surrounding the evacuation mission amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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