TN Govt To Send MPs, IAS Officers To Countries Bordering Ukraine To Expedite Students' Evacuation

The four MPs are Tiruchy Siva, Dr Kalanidhi Veeraswamy, MM Abdulla and Dr TRB Rajaa.

Tamil Nadu MK Stalin

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has formed a team comprising of three MPs, one MLA and four IAS officers to be sent to countries surrounding Ukraine to ensure the safety of the students and to expedite their return. The CM Stalin has also sent the list of the team to Union External Affairs Minister Jaishankar for his approval. 

In a letter to the External Affairs Minister, Stalin said, "I wish to inform that so far about 193 students from Tamil Nadu have been facilitated to reach their homes. The number of Tamil Nadu students being brought back needs to be increased by focussed intervention at the ground level."

"I would like to bring to your notice that more than 1,000 Tamil students are waiting for their evacuation in Romania, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. In this regard, the Government of Tamil Nadu has proposed to depute the following Members of Parliament and an MLA namely Tiruchy Siva, Dr Kalanidhi Veeraswamy, MM Abdulla and Dr TRB Rajaa along with four IAS Officers to travel to the above countries and coordinate with the Indian embassies there to ensure their safe and expeditious return," he said. 

"I request that necessary MEA clearances may be provided for the same at the earliest," the CM added. 

The Chief Minister also highlighted about students stranded on the eastern border of Ukraine in places like Kharkiv and Sumy where the situation is reportedly critical. The students may soon run out of food and water if the situation persists, he said adding, therefore alternate measures to bring students through Russian borders may also be explored. 

He also requested the Minister to take up the issue urgently with Russian authorities.