By Muslim Mirror

New Delhi: As battles between Russia and Ukraine escalate, calls for expediting efforts to bring back Indians, mostly students, trapped in the embattled country grow even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting on the conflict.

Indian government is doing nothing for us, The embassy staff are rejecting our call continuously says Indian students stuck in #Ukraine #UkraineRussiaWar pic.twitter.com/1RT366xmrh

— The Scribe (@TheScribe_In) February 28, 2022

Expressing concern on the Indians trapped in Ukraine and its surrounding countries, Suresh Kanojia, president of civil rights body Gadge Ambedkar Mission (GAM), shot off a letter to PM Modi urging him to expedite efforts to bring back Indians besides using his good office bring the two conflicting nations into the dialogue table. Kanojia also demanded the PM to bear the expense of the students being evacuated from Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Hindustan Times, quoting people familiar with the development, claimed that the cost of the evacuation would be completely borne by the Centre. He said, “War will not end the problem, dialogue will”.

Over 6000 Indian students who were studying in #Ukraine stuck on Romanian border from 12 hours. pic.twitter.com/nySEDkNKDj

— The Scribe (@TheScribe_In) February 28, 2022

The GAM letter stated, “Gone are the days of personal whims of dictators. We have inherited a democratic world. War must end. No individual or country has right to kill innocent people.”

Meanwhile, an impressive rally was organized by the GAM at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Saturday where the participants demanded swift action to bring the Indians back and urged the United Nations to paly active role in bringing peace in the region. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Chandrakanta K Mathur, president of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce (WCC), demanded the government to take steps for early evacuations of the Indians, raising alarm over the deteriorating situation. Prof Chandrakanta said, “While the government is doing its part, there is need to intensify efforts to bring students back safely.”

Meanwhile, the situation has turned alarming after President Vladimir Putin on Sunday put Russia’s nuclear deterrent forces on alert. On the other hand, several reports suggested that the exit point in Poland has turned into “a problem area” even though the border crossings to Hungry and Romania are function.

So far, more 2,000 Indian citizens, including students, have been evacuated from war-torn Ukraine, said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Sunday.