Sri Guru Granth Sahib, 46 Indian passport holders to arrive India today
Darpan News Desk IANS, 23 Aug, 2021 11:51 AM
Three Sri Guru Granth Sahib and 46 Afghan Hindus & Sikhs with Indian passport holders are expected to arrive India on Monday amid growing tension in Afghanistan.
The source has confirmed that the stranded Indian nationals and 46 Afghan Hindus & Sikhs, with 3 Sri Guru Granth Sahib, are currently inside the Hamid Karzai International Airport at Kabul and will reach India by Monday night. They are being escorted to the Indian Air Force aircraft.
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management committee and SAD leader Manjinder S. Sirsa said, "3 Sri Guru Granth Sahib and 46 Indian passport holders will arrive in India today. We thank GoI & PM Modi for helping Hindus-Sikhs in Afghanistan. We're in touch with minorities in Kabul who wish to be evacuated."
In a seperate development, one more private plane carrying Indian nationals landed at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Monday morning. However, out of a total of 30 persons who have been evacuated from Kabul via Qatar, two have tested positive for Covid-19. "Two persons out of 146 people who have returned to India from Afghanistan today have tested positive for Covid-19", said Rajinder Kumar, Nodal Officer (Delhi govt) for Covid testing of Afghanistan returnees.
Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the government is committed to the safe return of all Indian nationals from Afghanistan. Prime Minister Modi has asked the foreign ministry to brief floor leaders of political parties on developments in Afghanistan.
India is evacuating stranded Indian Citizens from Afghanistan and has been allowed two flights per day from Kabul.
External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar tweeted, "In view of developments in Afghanistan, PM Modi has instructed that MEA brief Floor Leaders of political parties. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi will be intimating further details."
India on Sunday evacuated 168 passengers including 107 Indian nationals through Indian Air Force's C-17 aircraft which landed at the Hindan IAF base in Ghaziabad.
Prominent hospitals in Gurugram have claimed that a huge dip in admission of foreign nationals have been witnessed due to the ongoing Covid pandemic, while the latest political tussle in Afghanistan will also have a huge impact on medical tourism in Gurugram.
India's priority in Afghanistan is safely getting back home its citizens in the country that has been over-run by the Taliban and it is discussing the matter with UN and US officials, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said here on Wednesday.
The BJP MLA from the Bispi Assembly constituency in Bihar's Madhubani district, Hari Bhushan Thakur Bachaul, made a controversial statement on Wednesday when he said that people having problems staying in India should go to Afghanistan and avail petrol and diesel at a lower price there.
Delhi's air quality was in the moderate category in certain places, while it was very poor at others. Air quality index (AQI) was 370 in Anand Vihar, while it was 150 in Mayur Vihar.
