On Tuesday night, a Twitter spat between Congress leader Siddaramaiah and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar erupted over his comments regarding 31 tribal people from Karnataka who are trapped in the conflict-torn country of Sudan. The argument was sparked by a tweet by the former chief minister of Karnataka, in which he accused the administration of doing nothing to help trapped members of a tribal community.
He said: “The government has not yet taken action to bring them back. The Hakki Pikkis in Sudan have been left stranded without food for the past few days.”
Mr. Jaishankar responded angrily to his accusation: “It is utterly irresponsible of you to politicise their predicament. No electoral objective justifies putting Indians in danger abroad.
“Absolutely disgusted by your tweet! Don’t play politics; there are lives on the line’, he said in a subsequent tweet criticising Siddaramaiah’s words.
Siddaramaiah responded with a scathing retort. “I’ve asked for your assistance because you are the minister of external affairs. Please direct us to the person who can assist us in bringing our people back if you are busy being appalled, he tweeted.
The Union Minister also published a thread describing the efforts made by the government in Sudan, where competing armed factions have been fighting for control of the African country.
“For security concerns, their identities and places cannot be made public. He continued, “Plans for them have to take into account a very challenging security picture. Their movement is restricted by ferocious fighting that is continuing. In this context, communication between the Embassy and the Ministry is ongoing.
The ardent supporter of the Congress demanded that the BJP administration at the centre launch diplomatic negotiations and contact international organisations right away to guarantee the safety of Hakki-Pikkis.
On Tuesday, the Indian Embassy in Sudan issued a cautious warning for Indian nationals to stay indoors and suggested rationing supplies as the “situation may continue for a few more days.”
We have observed numerous cases of looting. All Indian nationals are urged not to go outside. Please use only what you need. The current state might last for a few more days. Please try to ask your neighbours for assistance. The Indian Embassy in Khartoum tweeted, “Please stay at home and be safe.
In light of the ongoing fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the Ministry of External Affairs established a Control Room on Monday to inform and support Indians.
Since violence broke out between Sudan’s two senior generals, at least 185 people have died and more than 1,800 have been injured.
With supplies running low and some hospitals being forced to close, millions of people are imprisoned in their homes or wherever they may find sanctuary as a result of the conflict.
In heavily populated regions, the two sides are utilising tanks, artillery, and other heavy weapons. As night fell, fighter jets soared overhead and anti-aircraft fire lit up the skies.
