Spoke to MEA S Jaishankar to bring back Kannadigas stuck in Ukraine: CM Bommai
Bengaluru, Feb 26: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said he has spoken to the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to bring back Kannadigas back to Bengaluru, who are stranded in the war-torn Ukraine once they reach Delhi or Mumbai.
Stating that the Indian government is in touch with the Ukrainian and Russian authorities besides the countries neighbouring Ukraine, Bommai said he has also spoken to many stranded people.
"We will provide every assistance to bring Kannadigas to Bengaluru who land from Ukraine to India at Delhi and Mumbai. I have spoken to the External Affairs Minister. He told me that since the war is on, many of the arrangements are not in place anymore," Bommai told reporters.
Stating that many Indians are trapped in the regions where Russia has entered, the Chief Minister said no casualties have taken place.
He said the Indian embassies are coordinating with the Ukrainian authorities and other nations.
"India is in touch with many neighbouring countries. Apart from that, our diplomats who know Russian language have been sent. Efforts are on to bring our citizens back from the western region of the country," Bommai said.
According to him, those in the western part of Ukraine are safe and are coming home whereas efforts are on to bring people in the east Ukraine.
"We are also talking to the stranded people and they are also calling on our helpline number. We too are sharing the phone calls with the Centre. I myself have spoken to a few of our students there," Bommai said.
The Chief Minister said most of the students were stuck in Kharkiv in the north eastern part of the country, who have been told by the Ukrainian authorities to stay in a safe place.
He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin requesting him to make passage for the Indian aeroplanes to land to pick those stuck in Ukraine and Russia has also agreed to his request.
The process of bringing back the Indians will start once the war situation comes under control. The country will take all the measures to bring out people safely.
The Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) commissioner Dr Manoj Rajan said in a statement as many as 347 people from the state are stranded in Ukraine.
The KSDMA also said that the Chief Minister's Office, Chief Secretary P Ravi Kumar and the nodal officers were personally pursuing stranded cases with MEA and Indian Embassy in Kyiv.
The Embassy of India in Kyiv is open and fully operational and is making all efforts to reach out to the stranded people/ students from India and working on a mission mode to make alternative arrangement for safe evacuation, the KSDMA said.
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Bengal: Hours after killing of Suvendu's aide, cops say 5 BJP workers injured in bomb attack
Kolkata (PTI): Five BJP supporters have been injured allegedly in a bomb blast in Panihati in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, police said on Thursday.
The incident occurred late on Wednesday night, hours after Chandranath Rath, a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead by motorcycle-borne assailants, which led to the saffron camp accusing the TMC of unleashing retaliatory violence.
The bomb blast occurred near St Xavier's Institution in Panihati. Unidentified assailants hurled crude bombs at a group of BJP workers, injuring at least five people, police said, adding the injured were admitted to the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
According to local sources, BJP workers were interacting with residents on Dutta Road in Panihati's Ward number 2 when a group of motorcycle-borne persons allegedly targeted them with bombs before fleeing.
The BJP alleged that the attackers were backed by the ruling Trinamool Congress, an allegation denied by the Mamata Banerjee-led party.
A senior police official said, "We have started an investigation and are examining CCTV footage from the surrounding areas to identify those involved. Raids are being conducted to nab the accused."
A heavy police deployment has been made in the area.
"We are maintaining strict vigil and appealing to people not to spread rumours. Necessary steps are being taken to maintain peace," the officer added.
Incidentally, the area where the blast occurred is located near the residence of newly elected BJP MLA Ratna Debnath, the mother of the RG Kar Hospital rape victim.
