The Congress on Friday asked the government whether the four central ministers sent to the countries neighbouring Ukraine were supposed to only bolster Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image or extend help to the Indian students still stuck in the war zone.

“What’s the assignment of these ministers? They are indulging in PR exercise for the Prime Minister while new videos have emerged showing hundreds of Indian students stuck in Ukraine without any assistance from the government. Evacuation is not distributing roses to students who have crossed the border on their own. What are these ministers doing except chanting Modi-Modi? Why no help to the students still caught in the war zone?” asked Congress spokesperson Shama Mohammed.

She showed a video at a media conference in which students speak about being stuck in Sumy where Russian bombarding has been taking place for days. They said there was no food or water and nobody from the embassy had contacted them. One student said they were not in a position to reach the Hungary or Romania borders, which were over 1,000km away, and that some students from other countries who had ventured out had been shot. The majority of the students in the video were girls.

The students desperately pleaded with Prime Minister Modi, who on Friday afternoon was busy taking out an election roadshow in Varanasi, for immediate help as their lives were at risk.

“Modiji, please help kijiye, nahin to hum log mar jayenge (Modiji, please help. Otherwise we will die),” a student cried. They said the Russian border was the nearest from their location.

The Congress spokesperson wondered whether the ministers were not sent to help such children.

Former information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari tweeted: “Dear Prime Minister, listen to these children. Please speak to President Putin and establish an evacuation route across the Russian frontline. They are in clear and present danger and while Ukrainians are not holding them hostage, they are clearly discriminating against Indians.

Congress communications chief Randeep Surjewala tweeted: “One more Indian student was shot at. Indian students are facing grave threats. But Modi Government has turned into PR agency. When will the thousands of students still stuck inside Ukraine be brought out? Have the four ministers been sent only for clapping?”

Reacting to minister V.K. Singh’s remark that people do die in wars, Surjewala said: “Look at the shamelessness of the minister. Is India part of the war? If not, why were our children not evacuated?”

The Congress demanded the resignation of Karnataka minister Arvind Bellad who when asked when the body of Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagaudar, the student killed in Kharkiv, would be brought back had said: “...More space is needed to bring a body on a flight. In the place required for a body, eight to ten persons can be accommodated and brought back.”

Congress spokesperson Mohammed said: “Has such insensitivity been ever shown by any government towards citizens? The BJP doesn’t show any concern for the dignity of people even in death.”

She added: “It is the duty of the government to protect the lives of citizens, to bring them back in such crisis. They are not doing any favour. What is this Modi zindabad? Why are ministers forcing students who are returning from Ukraine to chant slogans in praise of Modi? There have been several evacuation operations, much bigger than this, but did you see any chest-thumping, credit-hunting?”