Ukraine universities discouraged stranded Indian students from leaving the war-torn nation and showed reluctance to offer them online courses, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in Parliament on Tuesday.
Elaborating upon the fall-out of the ongoing war for India, Jaishankar said it has major economic implications and the same can be seen in the rising prices of energy and commodities.
Giving details of Operation Ganga to bring back the stranded Indians from Ukraine after the Russian offensive began on February 24, Jaishankar said India managed to evacuate 22,500 of its citizens, including students, from there.
“Despite our efforts, however, a large majority of students elected to continue staying in Ukraine. We must understand the predicament in this regard. There was a natural reluctance to leave the educational institutions and affect the studies. Some universities actively discouraged and showed reluctance to offer online courses. Many of them received conflicting advice regarding safety,” Jaishankar said.
He said in the period leading to February 24, the political signals were confusing as well. “Public urgings not to be taken by alarmism and reports of force withdrawal created a confusing picture. The net result was that about 18,000 Indian nationals were caught in the midst of conflict when it started,” Jaishankar said.
The Minister said students did what they thought is right under the circumstance. He said India prepared in advance of the actual conflict situation.
Narrating the time-lines, Jaishankar said the Indian embassy in Ukraine had started a registration drive for India nationals in January, and as a result, 20,000 Indian nationals registered with the Indian embassy.
The Minister said 4,000 students left Ukraine through direct and indirect flights. India also rescued 147 foreign nationals of 18 countries, including Nepal and Bangladesh from Ukraine, he informed both Houses.
He said most of the Indian students studying in Ukraine hail from 35 States and Union Territories with over 1,000 students each from Kerala, UP, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar and Rajasthan.
The Minister also said more than half the students were in universities in eastern Ukraine that borders Russia and has been epicenter of conflict so far.
Jaishankar said the Indian Government issued an advisory on February 15 advising Indian citizens in Ukraine to leave the country. “In view of the continued build-up of tensions in February, the Embassy issued an advisory on 15 February 2022, advising Indians in Ukraine whose stay isn’t essential to leave country temporarily. It also advised Indians not to travel to Ukraine or undertake non-essential movements within Ukraine,” he said.
Operation Ganga saw more than 90 special flights including 76 civilian flights and 14 were Indian Air Force flights. The evacuation was undertaken from Romania, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. “While IAF rose to the occasion, most of the private airlines also participated enthusiastically,” he added.