The brewing storm in the Middle East has Congress MP Shakti Singh Gohil up in arms, demanding the Indian government expedite the evacuation of Gujaratis imperiled by the Iran-Israel-US standoff. Speaking from Ahmedabad on Sunday, the Rajya Sabha member detailed the harrowing scenarios unfolding in key Gulf hubs like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar, and beyond, where aerial assaults have sown widespread fear.
Gohil’s video statement underscored the direct threats to Gujarati residents and transients: shattered peace, grounded flights, and sealed skies turning routine journeys into nightmares. ‘Governments at the Centre and in Gujarat must secure their safety, livelihoods, and properties without hesitation,’ he declared.
Air travel chaos has amplified the crisis, with cancellations stranding transit passengers—many Gujaratis heading to America or Europe—indefinitely. Reports abound of Umrah devotees from Gujarat marooned at Saudi terminals, their appeals amplified through circulating footage.
In a bid for action, Gohil dispatched letters to Prime Minister Modi and Foreign Minister Jaishankar, pushing for immediate embassy interventions. He advocated gratis repatriation arrangements for returnees, alongside temporary embassy-funded stays and meals.
Drawing comparisons to global precedents, he stressed, ‘Other nations are housing and feeding their citizens—our embassies should act forthwith.’ As the conflict intensifies, this plea spotlights the urgent humanitarian imperative to shield and repatriate the Gujarati diaspora, preventing tragedy in the volatile region.