'PM Modi spoke to…': Rajnath Singh says Russia-Ukraine war ‘stopped for 4.5 hrs’

In 2022, India conducted Operation Ganga to rescue students in war-torn Ukraine.

Published on: Apr 15, 2024, 15:26:48 IST

By HT News Desk

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh claimed on Monday that following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's phone call to Russian and Ukrainian presidents, the war was briefly paused to facilitate the evacuation of stranded Indian students studying in Ukraine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defence minister Rajnath Singh during the launch of BJP's Sankalp Patra for Lok Sabha Elections 2024 at BJP HQ, in New Delhi, India, on Sunday, April 14, 2024. (Photo by Ajay Aggarwal/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

In 2022, India conducted Operation Ganga to rescue stranded students. Between the last week of February to early March, thousands of students returned from Ukraine through neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary, Poland, Moldova and Slovakia.

ALSO READ- ‘Era is not of war’: Modi publicly asks Putin to end Ukraine war. It’s a first

Addressing an election rally in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua, defence minister Singh said: “...There is a war going on between Russia and Ukraine. Many Indian students were studying there. Missiles were being fired from Russia as well as Ukraine and a large number of people were being killed... Our Prime Minister spoke to the Presidents of Russia, Ukraine and America.”

Singh said that this helped India rescue its citizens as the war was briefly halted to allow evacuation.

"The war was stopped for 4.5 hours and 22,500 of our students came to India from Ukraine," the defence minister added.

BJP's repeats claim to woo voters; Opposition terms it propaganda

Bharatiya Janata Party BJP leaders have consistently highlighted this rescue mission in their poll campaigns to rally support, while the opposition dismisses it as mere propaganda.

ALSO READ- ‘Russia, Ukraine tanks kept silent for 3 days after Modi’s call’: Amit Shah

Responding to one such social media campaign, Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi termed the claim that Prime Minister Modi "stopped war" as 'Papa of Propaganda'.

ALSO READ- Rahul Gandhi's ‘papa of propaganda’ dig at PM Modi over BJP's 'war rukwa di' ad

What is the government's official stand?

The ministry of external affairs has denied the claim at a regular press briefing. Arindam Bagchi, then MEA spokesperson, said, “We got specific inputs that this is a route that is available... we conveyed that to our citizens, and I am happy that many could make it.”

"Extrapolating that to say that somebody is holding off bombing or this is something we were coordinating is absolutely inaccurate."

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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