New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday that his ministry is in negotiations with governments in neighbouring countries of Ukraine to accommodate Indian medical students who have been compelled to flee the war-torn country, news agency PTI reported.
Jaishankar, a Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, told reporters in Vadodara that the Hungarian government has promised to accept as many Indian students as feasible.
"Apart from the efforts being made in the country by concerned department to help these medical students (who have returned from Ukraine due to war), the External Affairs Ministry is also in talks with Ukraine's neighbouring countries to find out if such students can be admitted in their universities," he was quoted by PTI in its report.
"Recently, the Hungarian Foreign Minister was in India and he told me nearly 1,250 Indian students have applied for admission in universities in his countries. He assured us Hungary will try to accommodate as many students as possible. The Centre is trying its best for our students," the minister said.
Indian students were compelled to flee Ukraine when Russia invaded the European country on February 24.
Jaishankar was in Vadodara to participate in a session in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave rewards under the PM CARES for Children, an initiative for children who lost parents or guardians due to COVID-19, via video conferencing.
Following the occasion, Jaishankar went to the city's Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) and spoke with applicants and authorities.
"Since many people had not applied for passport renewal due to coronavirus (during its peak), demand for new passports has increased now and there is a pressure on us. We are working with great enthusiasm to avoid delay in issuance of passports," he told reporters.
The External Affairs Minister will be present at the district-level ceremony in Vadodara on Tuesday, when PM Modi will deliver the 11th payment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana.
(With Inputs From PTI)