Srinagar, March 9 (KNS) ; Zuhaib Yousuf Mir on Monday expressed concern over reports that Indian students stranded in Iran are being asked to travel to Armenia and arrange their own flights to New Delhi at high costs.
The Peoples Democratic Party leader said the reported travel arrangement could impose a heavy financial burden on students, many of whom may not be able to afford the expenses.
Mir raised the issue while urging the Government of India to intervene and ensure the safe and affordable evacuation of the students.
“Reports from Indian students stranded in Iran are deeply concerning. They’re being told to travel to Armenia and then arrange their own flights to Delhi costing nearly ?1.5 lakh per ticket, apart from visa costs,” Mir said.
He added that a large number of students remain stranded in different Iranian cities, including around 600 students reportedly in Qom.
Referring to previous evacuation efforts, he said India had spent substantial resources during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine to bring back its citizens.
“During the Ukraine crisis, India spent over ?116 crore to bring back its citizens,” he said.
Mir said evacuating approximately 1,200 to 1,300 students from Iran would cost around ?20 crore, which he described as a manageable amount considering the safety of citizens.
“Students should not be pressured to pay such huge sums in a crisis. We pay taxes expecting protection and support in emergencies,” he added.
The PDP leader also said that several students from Jammu and Kashmir are among those currently stranded.
He appealed to Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, S. Jaishankar, and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir to intervene and facilitate a safe evacuation process.(KNS)