India announces launching 'Operation Ajay' to facilitate return of Indians from Israel
New Delhi(PTI): India on Wednesday announced launching "Operation Ajay" to facilitate the return from Israel of those Indians who wish to come back home as a series of brazen attacks on Israeli towns by Hamas fighters over the weekend triggered fresh tensions in the region.
Israel has already mounted a massive military offensive to avenge the attacks.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a visit to Sri Lanka, announced the launch of "Operation Ajay" in a post on X on Wednesday night.
"Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return," he said.
"Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad," he added.
The first batch of Indians is expected to be brought back from Israel in a special flight on Thursday.
Shortly after Jaishankar's announcement, the Indian embassy in Israel said it has e-mailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight on Thursday.
"Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights," it said on X.
According to estimates, around 18,000 Indians are currently residing in Israel.
Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 11, 2023
Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place.
Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad.
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Efforts of party cadres will be rewarded on May 4: DMK chief Stalin
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday said that the efforts made by his party cadres during the Assembly elections would be rewarded on May 4.
The counting of votes for the Assembly elections held on April 23 will be taken up on May 4.
"We are set to reap the rewards of the hard work put in by our party cadres on the coming fourth (May 4 counting day). There is absolutely no change in this and not even the slightest deviation," Stalin said at a May Day event here.
"There is no need for anyone to assume that I am speaking merely on the basis of exit polls," he added.
Stalin, who is also DMK chief, said that "good news" would come for those eagerly waiting for the election results.
Stating that the DMK governance is based on philosophy and principles, Stalin said, "This will continue."
He recalled the pivotal role of the then Chief Minister C N Annadurai, who first declared May Day as a government holiday, and subsequently, late CM M Karunanidhi, who was instrumental in extending it as a paid holiday across the nation.
"Responding to the request of Kalaingnar (Karunanidhi), the then Prime Minister V P Singh accepted the plea and declared it (May 1) a paid government holiday not merely for Tamil Nadu, but for the entire nation," Stalin said.
