India / Some countries left their citizens stuck in China, India evacuated them: PM

While launching India's COVID-19 vaccination drive via video conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said, "In the fight against coronavirus, we have set an example for the world at many steps." PM Modi added, "When countries left their citizens stuck in China...India stepped up and evacuated not only Indians but also people of other nations under Vande Bharat mission."

Vikrant Shekhawat : Jan 16, 2021, 03:14 PM
New Delhi: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive on Saturday, he took an indirect dig at Pakistan, without naming the country. He said that at a time when "few countries" had left their citizens amid rising cases of Coronavirus in China, India not only brought back its citizens but also helped other nations. "At a time when some countries had left their citizens amid increasing cases of coronavirus in China, India brought back every Indian trapped in China. And not only of India, but we also brought back citizens of many other countries from there," PM Modi said.

The PM was referring to the incident in January last year when Pakistan government decided not to evacuate its citizens from the coronavirus-hit Wuhan city to show "solidarity" with its all-weather ally China. Special Assistant to Pakistan Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza had said that Pakistan would not to evacuate its nationals from China in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Moreover, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar had said that India had offered to 'bring back all the people in our neighbourhood', including Pakistani students from the Wuhan, but Imran Khan-led country refused.