NEW DELHI: In a shocking surprise thrown on Wednesday much to the dismay of hundreds of Indians stranded in Japan, the Civil Aviation Minister of India Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted that only one flight would be operated to bring back Indians from Japan.
The statement by the aviation minister is in deep contrast with the one made by the Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs on May 11 when he categorically had said in his Facebook live address that there would be three flights operated from Tokyo – New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai (not Karanataka though). the statements made by both the ministers grossly contradict each other much to the dismay of the Indians stranded in Japan who were eagerly looking forward to flying back to their own country.
As against the earlier flights’ schedule flashed under the second phase of Vande Bharat Mission on Tuesday when the number of flights to be operated between Japan and India was three – one each to Delhi, Mumbai, and Karnataka, the flight chart posted by the aviation minister on his Twitter handle (@HardeepSPuri) said it was just one flight; from Japan to Mumbai.
“Phase-2 of Vande Bharat from 16-22 May will also include flights from Armenia, Australia, Belarus, Canada, France, Georgia, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia, Tajikistan, Thailand & Ukraine,” Puri tweeted and tagged a schedule which showed only one flight from Japan.
Puri went on to say in his another tweet, “In 1st phase of Vande Bharat we were to bring back 14,800 Indians on 64 flights. 8500 Indians have already returned till this morning. More flights are underway. In the 2nd phase, the numbers are being doubled. 30,000 more Indians will return from 31 countries on 149 flights.”
This development has apparently left the stranded Indians in deep sorrow in Japan where more than one thousand are waiting to be evacuated as many of them are stressed because of the resources they are running out or because of the medical emergencies.
Going by the number of Indians awaiting return to India, about 3-4 flights are required for their evacuation.
One of the Indians stranded in Japan said on the condition of anonymity that the Indian government was playing with the sentiments of the Indians who have been stuck there for so many days and broken their hearts.
“We are feeling cheated at the hands of the Indian government that first abandoned us without responding to our concerns. Now when we and our families waiting for us in India saw a ray of hope in returning homes, the aviation minister comes up with such a shocking statement. We are completely shattered emotionally,” he said.
Also read: Finally, Indians to return from Japan under Vande Bharat Mission on May 16-22
Can you please put this question in front of Hardeep Singh Puri, Why there is only one flight from Japan?
If 3-4 flights can evacuate all stranded and distressed Indians then why he didn’t do this in the first or second phase?
Why Govt. is doing unnecessary delays. It’s almost 2 months and such a slow evacuation plan indicates poor management of government.