The Congress on Tuesday intensified its attack on the government after the death of an Indian student in Ukraine and said Narendra Modi was so engrossed in electoral politics that he had abdicated his responsibilities as Prime Minister.
Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak said: “The Prime Minister today asked people to go door-to-door and seek votes for the BJP. He has to send out a message door-to-door that he is there, doing his duty as Prime Minister. He is not for giving speeches at election rallies only. He cannot abdicate his responsibilities and remain engrossed in elections.”
Nayak insisted that everybody knows Modi woke up late when other countries had executed their plans to evacuate their citizens from Ukraine.
“Modi has built his foreign policy on his personal relations with leaders of other countries. Why are we seeing that only Indian students are facing such difficulties in leaving the war-torn Ukraine. Has Modi talked to Russia and Ukraine for safe passage of students? Have countries like Hungary, Poland, Romania been told to allow safe passage?”
She said: “We need outcomes, not optics. We have no problem if the ministers are turning Operation Ganga into photo opportunities for credit. But we want all the children back without any further delay. So far, it has been a case of diplomatic failure, lack of foresight, cruelty and irresponsible behaviour. It is no more a case of fear and confusion. It is now a question of life and death. We saw videos in which students claimed Indian girls have been abducted. Has the government verified the authenticity of this information?”
The Congress spokesperson asked more questions: “Has the government made a list of students stuck in danger zone? How many of them are in bunkers, how many at which borders? Is there any comprehensive evacuation plan for both the groups, who are in cities and who have reached the borders? So far, it appears the government has let them to fend for themselves. Is this the definition of aatma nirbhar (self-reliant) that Modi propagated? Why doesn’t Modi come on TV at 8pm to tell the nation what he is doing?”
Rahul Gandhi also tweeted: “Received the tragic news of an Indian student Naveen losing his life in Ukraine. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. I reiterate, the Government of India needs a strategic plan for safe evacuation. Every minute is precious.”
The party condemned Union minister Pralhad Joshi’s statement that the Indians studying medicine in Ukraine would not have cleared the qualifying exams in India, and said the government was mocking the children instead of fulfilling its own responsibility.
