New Delhi, March 1 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday condoled the death of an Indian student in shelling in Ukraine's Kharkiv and called upon the Union government to draw up a strategy for the safe evacuation of all stranded Indians.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the death in a tweet on Tuesday and said it was in touch with the family of the student.
The student, Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar, was a native of Chalageri in Karnataka's Haveri district.
"Received the tragic news of Indian student Naveen losing his life in Ukraine. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
"I reiterate, GOI (Government of India) needs a strategic plan for safe evacuation. Every minute is precious," Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter.
The Congress party expressed condolences to Gyanagoudar's family and friends. It also urged the government to expedite the evacuation of Indians stranded in war-torn Ukraine.
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the demise of an Indian student in Ukraine. Our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. We once again urge GoI (Government of India) to ensure the speedy and safe evacuation of our people," it stated in a tweet.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra too condoled the death of the student and asked the government to bring back the Indians stranded in Ukraine as soon as possible.
"The news of the death of Indian student Naveen trapped in Ukraine is very sad. My deepest condolences to their families. May God give them courage in this time of sorrow. I request the government to make every effort to bring back all our students as soon as possible," she tweeted.
Expressing sadness over the death, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged the BJP government at the Centre "has no evacuation plan" and that it has "abandoned" the youth.
"Our deepest condolences to the family of the student from Karnataka who has died. This is the tragedy where the BJP Government has no evacuation plan.
"The Modi Government has abandoned our young, Pralhad Joshi decries and insults our students in Ukraine. Only photo-op, no action," he said.
He attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for campaigning in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and asked whose responsibility is it to bring all Indians stuck in Ukraine back safely.
"Modi Ji, what would you say to the family in Karnataka which lost their child due to the lack of sensitivity of your government?
"In the midst of Ukraine-Russia war, the lives of around 20,000 Indians are in danger every moment and you are engaged in this (electioneering)? Whose responsibility is it to bring thousands of children back safely," Surjewala posed.
Another Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said, "At such a crucial time in history, Prime Minister Modi should convene an all-party parliamentary meeting on the Russian-Ukraine war. Such a dialogue will help the Indian government take the best possible step forward."
Party leader Ragini Nayak alleged that it was due to the Modi government's "inaction and insensitivity" that an Indian student died in Ukraine.
She sought to know from the government why it "did not take steps in advance" to evacuate students from the conflict zones.
Asking how many students were missing and whether the government has any specific evacuation plan, Nayak sought Union minister Pralhad Joshi's apology for remarking that 90 per cent of students who study MBBS abroad fail to clear qualifiers here.
Nayak also accused BJP ministers of resorting to photo-ops by getting themselves clicked with students returning from Ukraine.
"You get yourself photographed, but start the exercise of evacuating 20,000 children who are trapped in Ukraine. If it does not happen, the Congress party will continue to exert pressure and will keep on asking questions."
"How many students are in danger zone and what kind of a detailed evacuation plan have you framed? Has Modi Ji himself taken any initiative to have talks with Russia and Ukraine? Has the Indian Embassy been successful in talking to any border states," she asked.
Nayak said it was the duty of the Modi government to provide information to students and evacuate them from the danger zone.
The MEA said the foreign secretary is calling in ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to reiterate its demand for "urgent safe passage" to Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and in other cities which have become conflict zones.
"Similar action is also being undertaken by our ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine," it said.
On Tuesday, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv advised all Indian nationals, including students, to leave the Ukraine capital urgently the day itself, preferably by trains or by any other means available.
The advisory came amid increasing fighting between Russian forces and Ukrainian troops around Kyiv.
