Airlift Punjabis from Middle East, says CM

Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann has called upon the central govt to launch an emergency evacuation mission for thousands of Punjabi nationals trapped in the escalating conflict across the Middle East.In a high-level telephonic appeal to civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu on Thursday, Mann demanded "special aircraft carriers" to repatriate workers and students caught in the crossfire of the sudden regional war. The CM confirmed to have shared comprehensive data, including contact details and locations of stranded individuals, with the Union ministry to facilitate a coordinated rescue.
Mann said: "The safe return of our Punjabis stranded in Arab countries is our govt's topmost priority. I have urged the Union minister that these individuals must be evacuated at the earliest so they can reunite with their distressed families." To expedite the process, Punjab NRI affairs minister Ravjot Singh has been dispatched to New Delhi for a face-to-face meeting with central officials to finalise the logistics of the extraction.Central GuaranteesFollowing the discussion, the Union ninister reportedly assured the Punjab govt that necessary arrangements, including the deployment of special flights, were being organised. The CM's office highlighted the historical contribution of the Punjabi diaspora to emphasise the urgency of the mission. Mann noted the role of Punjabis in making India self-reliant.He cited their service in safeguarding the nation's sovereignty as a reason for the Centre to prioritise their rescue. The state govt expressed "firm solidarity" with the families of youths and students stuck in the Gulf region. "We are duty-bound to bail out our people in this hour of crisis," Mann stated. "The Punjab govt stands firmly with the aggrieved families until every citizen is back on native land." MSID:: 128974310 413 | Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Holi wishes, messages and quotes !