15-20 Indians want to leave Ukraine, being provided all help: MEA
New Delhi(PTI): There are 15-20 Indians in war-hit Ukraine who want to leave and are being provided all help, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday, asserting that the "Operation Ganga" is still on.
At a media briefing here, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said it is a war situation but "we will keep doing what we can to evacuate those who want to come".
"Till about three days ago, there were about 50 Indians who were there. Our assessment is that there are 15-20 people who want to leave that country. The others who are there do not want to leave right now. We are providing as much help as possible to them," Bagchi said.
Noting that over 22,500 Indians have been brought back from the east European country, he said there are still people in isolated pockets and "this is an evolving situation".
"We are in contact with all Indians who are there," he added.
The Indian embassy is providing as much help as possible to them, Bagchi said.
Asked about the three Indians evacuated recently via Moscow from Ukraine's southern region of Kherson, he said the focus is on evacuating Indians and any route could be taken for that.
He said there are some more people in Kherson that the ministry is aware of and if they want to take this route that was taken and it remains open, it can be tried.
"Many people have said the Operation Ganga has come to an end. It is not so. Those who want to be evacuated, we are helping them through our embassy operating from Warsaw (in Poland)," the MEA spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, asked about his reaction to criticism of India in Pakistan on the movie, "The Kashmir Files", Bagchi replied, "I don't react to it, it is a movie made, people are free to comment on it. It shows developments in our country that happened over a certain point of time. I am not even sure it is a foreign policy issue on which I need to comment."
"Pakistan makes various allegations which on almost all occasions are either not correct or completely unfounded or are interference in our internal affairs. I have not seen the specific comment so I am not going to comment on that," he said.
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Saffron shawls not allowed in schools in K'taka, clarifies CM Siddaramaiah
Mysuru (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday clarified that saffron shawls would not be allowed in educational institutions under the state government’s order on religious symbols, while practices already in existence such as hijab, turbans, rudraksha beads and sacred threads (Janeu) would continue to be permitted.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, the Chief Minister clarified that those religious attire which are in practice will be allowed.
The Karnataka government on Wednesday passed an order allowing students to wear Hijab, sacred thread, Shivadhara, Rudraksha in schools. The order scrapped the BJP government’s 2022 order, banning Hijab in government schools following the Hijab versus saffron shawl controversy.
The opposition flayed the move and termed it "appeasement politics".
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A section of Hindu right wing organisations even threatened to wear saffron shawls in the schools.
Now the Chief Minister has clarified that saffron shawls will not be permitted.
“Saffron shawls are not allowed. Those shawls cannot be worn. Turbans, sacred thread, Shiva dhara, rudraksha, and hijab can also be worn,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.
“See, it is not just the hijab. People can also wear sacred threads, Shivadhara rudraksha beads — everyone can wear things according to their beliefs. This is allowed up to Class 12, whether it is high school, college or primary school. It applies to all.”
Asked whether saffron turbans representing saffron identity would be permitted, the Chief Minister said only practices already in existence would be allowed and no new practices could be introduced.
“When we say turbans, we mean practices that already exist. Nothing new can be introduced. Only those practices and beliefs that already exist till now are allowed,” he said.
Responding to questions on Prime Minister Narendra Modi reducing his convoy to conserve diesel, Siddaramaiah said such measures would only have a temporary effect. “What the Prime Minister has said is not the right step. Instead, it would be better to speak with other countries and bring awareness and consciousness among them,” he said.
Replying to questions on the controversy surrounding the NEET examination, Siddaramaiah criticised the conduct of the exam and said students should not suffer because of lapses in the system. “Look, we conducted CET, and they introduced NEET. If they fail to conduct it properly, what will happen to the students who studied hard and wrote the exam? What about their future?” he asked.
