20,000 Students Evacuated from Ukraine, a Testament to ‘Modi ki Guarantee’: Jaishankar

GG News Bureau
Pune, 13th April. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized on Friday that the 20,000 children who returned from Ukraine were Modi’s guarantee, highlighting that foreign policy impacts everyone’s life, not just diplomats.

During an interaction with the youth in Pune at the launch of the Marathi translation of his book “Why Bharat Matters,” he discussed India’s global rise and increased opportunities.

Jaishankar pointed out that in today’s globalized world, events like the Covid pandemic can affect everyone, regardless of where they originate.

He also mentioned that during the Covid pandemic, people affected by the virus couldn’t be stopped from returning to India, leading to its spread.

Jaishankar highlighted situations where people visiting other countries may get stuck due to conflicts and tensions, citing the example of around 20,000 students stranded in Ukraine in 2022.

He also discussed how India’s decision to continue importing oil from Russia during the Russia-Ukraine war prevented a rise in petrol prices domestically, showcasing the importance of diplomatic decisions.

Jaishankar further emphasized that India’s relations with the US were strengthened due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s credibility, leading to benefits like Apple choosing to manufacture iPhones in India.

He also mentioned India’s initiative to produce vaccines domestically during the Covid pandemic, highlighting the importance of global supply chains and diplomacy in such efforts.

Jaishankar stressed that foreign policy impacts everyone’s life and mentioned that Indians can now travel abroad with the assurance of Modi’s guarantee.

In 2022, under Operation Ganga in Ukraine during Russia’s invasion, around 18,282 Indians were evacuated, as reported by Minister of State for MEA, V Muraleedharan, during a Lok Sabha session in December last year.

Additionally, in 2023, under Operation Kaveri, a total of 4,097 people, including 136 foreign nationals, were evacuated. India also evacuated 1,343 people, including 14 OCI card holders and 20 foreign nationals, during the Israel-Hamas war in 2023.