Hundreds of stranded Indians from the state of Maharashtra have started a social media campaign #UAE TO MAHARASHTRA..DONT IGNORE US for seeking repatriation flights from the UAE to Maharashtra.
The Govt. of India has started Vande Bharat Mission on started the Vande Bharat Mission on May 7 2020 to bring stranded Indians to home amid the coronavirus lockdown.
According to the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Dubai, Since the beginning of Vande Bharat Mission, CGI Dubai sent 10271 Indians onboard 57 flights to various cities in India till date.
But till now not a single flight has been arranged to the state of Maharashtra.
Frustrated Maharashtrian who is stranded in UAE, has formed WhatsApp groups and intensified Twitter campaigns with hashtags that appeal for repatriation flights from the UAE to Maharashtra in central India.
Some of them have also changed their Twitter names and profile pictures to reflect their appeal.
“##UAE to Maharashtra: Don’t ignore us” is one of the Twitter accounts that recently changed its profile picture with images of many stranded Maharashtrians along with messages related to their campaign.
From 7th June, 3rd phase of Vande Bharat will begin. State is coordinating with Union Govt to cover the sectors that haven’t yet been covered and to repatriate more people from these sectors.
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) May 30, 2020Advertisement
Several people in distress are posting video clips to share their plight and seek authorities’ attention. Some are seen folding their hands and appealing for help in a choked voice.
Many have also voiced that what’s more frustrating to them is that there’s no communication from the government while it’s given permission for flights to land from many countries except the UAE.
Stranded Maharashtrians have also been flooding the Twitter pages of the Indian missions in the UAE with their appeals.
the Indian Consulate on Saturday in reply to a twitter post said, “Several people from Maharashtra stranded here and we cannot help them unless there are flights to Maharashtra which is to be received from Central and state govt”
Mam…we replied yesterday. Several people from Mahashtra stranded here and we cannot help them unless there are flights to Maharashtra..which is to be received from Central and state govt
— India in Dubai (@cgidubai) May 30, 2020
Update From Maharashtra Government
“Repatriation update: A total of 26 flights, with 3,459 people repatriated from 17 countries, in Vande Bharat I & II till 30th May 2020 landed in Maharashtra. From 31st May to 7th June, 6 more flights will land, if not more.” Aaditya Thackeray state minister and chief minister’s son tweeted
Repatriation update:
A total of 26 flights, with 3459 people repatriated from 17 countries, in Vande Bharat I & II till 30th May 2020 landed in Maharashtra. From 31st May to 7th June, 6 more flights will land, if not more.— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) May 30, 2020Advertisement
“Repatriation update: A total of 26 flights, with 3,459 people repatriated from 17 countries, in Vande Bharat I & II till 30th May 2020 landed in Maharashtra. From 31st May to 7th June, 6 more flights will land, if not more.”
“From 7th June, 3rd phase of Vande Bharat will begin. The state is coordinating with Union Govt to cover the sectors that haven’t yet been covered and to repatriate more people from these sectors,” Thackeray added
From 7th June, 3rd phase of Vande Bharat will begin. State is coordinating with Union Govt to cover the sectors that haven’t yet been covered and to repatriate more people from these sectors.
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) May 30, 2020
Stranded Maharashtrians in the UAE has now sought to clarify if their pleas for flights would be heard at least from June 7.
(With Input From Gulf News)
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