As missile exchanges light up the skies over Iran, CPI’s Santosh Kumar, a voice in the Rajya Sabha, has penned a critical letter to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The focus: Ensuring the safe return or protection of around 10,000 Indian nationals caught in the escalating US-Israel-Iran showdown.
The trigger was unmistakable—Israel and US forces unleashing missiles on Iranian cities including the capital last Saturday, followed by Tehran’s strikes on Gulf-based US facilities. This tit-for-tat has heightened fears for Indian lives in the fray.
Kumar’s letter lays bare his apprehensions about the post-attack landscape and rising hostilities. He insists their security be non-negotiable, pushing for detailed evacuation frameworks, instant advisories, embassy synchronization, and readiness for mass extractions.
The emotional toll on relatives in India cannot be overstated; they’re left in limbo, craving updates. Kumar probes: What precise actions is the government executing on the ground?
Strategically astute, the note references India’s hefty financial commitments to Iranian infrastructure and its pivotal position in energy corridors. While instability imperils these, Kumar’s core message is humanitarian: Save lives first.
He beseeches diplomatic maneuvering to calm tensions while holding the ministry accountable. In parallel, New Delhi has rolled out alerts for Indians in affected nations like Qatar and UAE, with embassies pledging unwavering assistance. This letter elevates the discourse, reminding all of India’s global citizen footprint amid war drums.