New Delhi: Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday expressed concern for the safety of Indians in Israel and Iran amidst rising tensions between the two countries. He urged the Indian government to arrange for the immediate return of Indians wishing to leave the region.
Hoping for peace in the affected regions, Kejriwal posted on the social media platform X in Hindi: "Many Indian families are worried because their relatives are working in these countries. I humbly request the Indian government to make arrangements on a mission mode to bring back all Indians living there who wish to return as soon as possible."
Apart from Kejriwal, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also stressed the need for peace and dialogue in West Asia on X. He reminded that since 2007, the United Nations has observed October 2nd as the International Day of Non-Violence, initiated by the Congress-led UPA Government. "The world's conscience seems to have been dulled by the forces of revenge. It needs to be reawakened by the forces of reconciliation," he wrote on X.
The ministry of external affairs has urged Indian citizens living in Iran to remain vigilant and stay in contact with the Indian embassy in Tehran. "We are closely monitoring the recent escalation in the security situation in the region. Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Iran. Those currently residing in Iran are requested to remain vigilant and stay in contact with the Indian Embassy in Tehran," Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson for the MEA, posted on X.
The conflict escalated after Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel. The United States military assisted Israel in defending against the attack, with US naval destroyers and Israeli air defense units shooting down the incoming missiles.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Iran's actions, describing the attack as a "big mistake," and warned that Tehran would face repercussions. "Iran made a big mistake today and will pay for it," he said.
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