Raipur. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai spoke to the students of the state studying there amid concerns arising in the background of incidents of violence in Kyrgyzstan and assured them of all possible assistance. He also said that the Indian government is in constant touch with the Kyrgyzstan government.
After the incidents of targeting foreigners in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, concerns have arisen about Indian students studying there. The students there have been asked to stay indoors. Officials said that about 15 thousand students from India, including 70 students from Chhattisgarh, are studying medical and other courses in Kyrgyzstan.
An official of the Public Relations Department said that Chief Minister Sai spoke to student Vijay, a resident of Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh, and Shivani, a resident of neighboring Janjgir-Champa district, over the phone and enquired about their well-being. Sai asked them to take care of themselves.
The Chief Minister told both the students that the Government of India is in constant touch with Kyrgyzstan and the students need to worry.
Sai told the students to contact the Chhattisgarh government if they need any kind of help and assured that the state and central governments stand with them in this difficult situation.
Officials said, “The students told the Chief Minister about the tense situation there. The students told that they are not allowed to leave the hostel, food and water are being provided to them there and they have booked tickets for return.” Sai told the students that if they have any problem, they must contact the Chhattisgarh government. He said that the state government, with the cooperation of the Government of India, will ensure the safe return of all of you. Meanwhile, the family members of Ayesha Shereen Rai, a student studying MBBS in Bishkek, have appealed to the officials to ensure her safe return to India.
In a video message shared by family members, student Ayesha said, “I am a third year MBBS student in Kyrgyzstan. I am stuck here and the situation here is very bad. I want to return to my country. I appeal to the Chhattisgarh government and the Indian government to save us.”
Ayesha’s maternal uncle Oliver Rai said, “My niece is stuck in Bishkek. Foreign students are being targeted and attacked there. The situation is not being shown clearly in the media but my niece told me about the violence happening there. I would like to request our Chief Minister and Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker (Raman Singh) to save them. He is in the sixth semester of MBBS there.” Oliver said that the students were kept hidden there. He claimed that the Indian Embassy there was not responding to his phone calls.