Escalating hostilities in the Middle East prompted a fervent plea from Congress Rajya Sabha MP Shakti Singh Gohil, who on Sunday called for the swift extraction of Gujarati citizens from danger zones spanning Iran, Israel-impacted areas, and Gulf states reeling from US-involved strikes. In a compelling video, he spotlighted the perils in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar, and similar locales battered by drones, missiles, and airstrikes.
‘The Gujarati community faces unprecedented risks to life and enterprise,’ Gohil warned, urging Delhi and Gandhinagar to fortify protections forthwith. Flight suspensions and airspace shutdowns have bottlenecked vital routes, trapping travelers mid-journey to Europe and North America.
Eyewitness accounts reveal Gujaratis immobilized during layovers in Dubai, Kuwait, or Abu Dhabi, compounded by Saudi-stricken Umrah pilgrims whose airport ordeals are documented in poignant videos.
Gohil’s proactive outreach includes formal missives to PM Narendra Modi and S. Jaishankar, beseeching expedited measures. He outlined free safe passage back to Gujarat for the willing, with embassies stepping in for accommodations and provisions pending evacuations.
‘Aligning with international norms, India cannot lag in safeguarding its own,’ he emphasized. This unfolding drama serves as a stark reminder of the diaspora’s exposure to global flashpoints, compelling a robust, empathetic governmental response to ensure no Gujarati is left behind.