New Delhi: The Congress party questioned the failure of the government of India to bring back Indians who have been forcibly pushed into Russia-Ukraine War.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here today, Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring disclosed that 126 Indian citizens, including young men from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu-Kashmirand Maharashtra, were trafficked into the Russian Army to fight the war. He said, among them, at least 14 remain missing.
These men were tempted by agents who promised them employment in Singapore, Malaysia or Italy, but instead sent them to Russia, where they were handed rifles to fight after 15 days of training, pushing them into a brutal conflict, despite a few of them having physical disabilities, he said.
Warring said that their families have got only assurances from the government of India, and they were forced to find out the truth by themselves.
He said, Jagdeep Kumar, whose brother Mandeep has been missing for over a year, travelled to Russia just to seek answers. Khushbu Yadav’s brother from Azamgarh is also missing for a year. “The Indian Embassy officials in Moscow didn’t help them at all, they refused to provide even the address of the Russia’s External Ministry office”, he said.
Jagdeep Kumar is planning to visit Russia again next month.
Warring revealed that agents charged around ₹35 lakh for sending people to their preferred countries, but instead pushed them into Russia’s war.
Despite multiple appeals to the Ministry of External Affairs, no concrete help has been extended, he said, adding it raises serious questions.
The Punjab Congress president asked why has the Modi government failed to take swift action to bring back our missing citizens?
“Why was Russia allowed to recruit Indian civilians in its Army without due permission” he asked, adding, “why have families not received official updates?”
The senior Congress leader demanded updated information from the MEA on the status of all missing Indians in Russia. He also demanded action against agents who have already been named by the victims’ families.
Amarinder Singh Raja Warring was accompanied by family members of two persons, who have gone missing in Russia. They appealed to the Modi government to help them in getting information about their kin.
