Haryana CM Khattar meets Ukraine returnee students, assures ‘maximum assistance’

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Sunday that he would convey the suggestions received from students to Prime Minister Narendra Modi so as to ensure maximum help is extended to the students who were pursuing medical education in the east European country

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday interacted with students who returned from the war-torn Ukraine.

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar with students who returned from the war-torn Ukraine and their parents, in Gurugram on Sunday. (Parveen Kumar/HT PHOTO)

Khattar said that he would convey the suggestions received from students to Prime Minister Narendra Modi so as to ensure maximum help is extended to the students who were pursuing medical education in the east European country.

Khattar said that a complicated situation has arisen before these students due to the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. There were about 18,000 to 19,000 Indian students stranded in Ukraine out of which around 1,800 were from Haryana state.

Khattar said that after the war broke out, the first task and priority of the government were to ensure the safe return of these students. He said the external affairs ministry has done a commendable job by evacuating the students.

“Our senior ministers have gone to the neighbouring countries of Ukraine and special flights are being run. Most of the people have returned from there, yet some students are still stuck in a few cities of Ukraine. Special flights are being run for those Indian students who have reached the border. We are all worried about the safe return of those who are still stuck there and the officials are in constant touch with the students and their family members,” Khattar said.

The chief minister further said that 1,234 students from Haryana have returned till Saturday. “Some are on the border and will board flights soon and some have already reached Delhi and Mumbai. Around 80 students belonging to Haryana are still stuck in the cities of Ukraine. The Union government is in touch with them and making sure that they return at the earliest,” Khattar added.

Khattar said that his government is waiting for all the students to return, following which he plans to discuss the future course of action related to their education, which is uncertain at the moment. “The future of students will be a matter of great concern for the government of India and the Indian Medical Council and we will abide by their decisions. Even today, talks have been held with the students who have returned from Ukraine and their parents in Gurugram. We will definitely convey the good suggestions given by these students to the Prime Minister so that maximum assistance can be provided to them,” he said.

The students told the chief minister that they felt as if they had returned from a battlefield and they had very little hope of returning.

Khattar assured that students whose courses have been completed will be given internship opportunities.

The students openly gave their suggestions to the chief minister and explained that they crossed the conflict-ridden Ukraine’s border by wearing the tricolour flag of India. They said that vehicles displaying the Indian flag were being allowed to cross the border there.

The students said that they still want to return to Ukraine once the war is over and the situation gets back to normal.