As the world watches with utter disbelief the carnage being perpetrated by Putin in Ukrainian cities, stories have emerged, certainly during the initial period since the so-called special military operation commenced on 24th February 2022 of discrimination faced by Indian and African students trying desperately to leave.
I have seen video clips on social media of desperate students pleading to the guards standing at the train doors stopping our students to board. Whether it was due to lack of space -although it did not seem that way or sheer intimidation one is not sure. There are reports of pets crossing the Polish border to safety at the expense of Indian and African origin students looked on who had travelled from L’viv. Having crossed many land borders in peacetime myself I can just imagine the fear and helplessness the students must have felt.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted on 6th March 2022 confirming no such incidents had taken place, on the contrary, they helped 10,000 Indian students leave. Tweeteratis are busy connecting abstention of India from a UN Security Council draft resolution vote at the UN deploring the action by Russia to attack a sovereign state. Most of us must have seen the direct appeal to PM Modi by the Ukrainian ambassador however conclusion is already drawn on how many times Ukraine has been on India’s side.
Bearing in mind that Putin visited India in December 2021 as if to repair a drifting bilateral relationship, still openly confirming China to be Russia’s strategic partner it Is not clear what has the visit achieved.
Indian government must be congratulated for speedy, smooth and safe evacuation of its citizens, not least sending four Union ministers to Ukraine’s neighbours. No other country has taken such brave action. At the same time those students who faced such racism must be interviewed for fact finding and reporting back to the authorities. Evidently the Ukrainians have lot on their plate than to worry about such incidents at the same time they receive large income from foreign students.
Those of us Indian diaspora abroad have to carefully think and consider pro-cons of assisting with any charitable efforts to help the war-torn country.
Jai Hind
Desh Premi
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The big media organisations ignore such stories as their narrative is to project draconian anti Russian feelings among masses. Whilst in the UK in the age of diversity and inclusion, the adverisers bend over backwards to show black actors/ repoeters. Why do they turn a blind eye to such incidents?
It is very important for all the Indians to be united wherever they are living and think and help each other.