A situation where politicians make tall claims without any effective result, a man has stepped up overseeing operations undertaken by the Indian Navy and the Indian Army in Yemen.
That man is VK Singh.
He is the same VK Singh, who was condemned on social media and on print by Indians when he attended Pakistan National Day last month.
VK Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs
The situation in Yemen is worst for the locals, including Indians residing in the country. The Saudi-led attacks on the Shiites have taken many lives spawning fear among the residents.
Most Indians were angry that when India celebrated Shaheed Diwas, our Minister of State for External Affairs celebrated Pakistan National Day hosted by the Pakistan embassy in New Delhi. However, it was wrong of the media – online and print – to wrongly target Singh for his participation in the celebration. He has served the country during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971 and still continues to do so, though now as MoS.
Wear green jacket 2 #PartyWithEnemy. Create media furore. Few wks later, auction jkt 4 nationalist credentials. #VKSingh in PM’s footsteps?
— scharada dubey (@scharada_dubey) March 23, 2015
See the ‘DISGUSTing’ moments of @Gen_VKSingh at the #PartyWithEnemy. Abki baar biryani with terrorists! pic.twitter.com/boaXHheeOW — Roji M John (@rojimjohn) March 24, 2015
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally telephoned King Salman of Saudi Arabia requesting cooperation and support to evacuate the stranded Indians in Yemen, to which the Saudi King agreed.
As a result, the Indian Navy has done something no one would have expected, which is evacuating close to 350 Indian citizens as part of “Operation Raahat”, who were left high and dry in war-torn Yemen.
Narendra Modi sought help of King Salman of Saudi to evacuate Indians in Yemen
Rescued with a Navy vessel, the Indian nationals safely reached Djibouti; from there they were securely taken back to India by Air Force C-17 Globemaster. Many Indians are still stranded in Sana’a, the capital. Another aircraft is soon to reach to bring back the marooned Indians.
Indians rescued Air Force C-17 Globemaster
VK Singh is one of the most respected Army men and his treatment after attending the Pakistan National Day, at the hands of Indians, was totally unfair. He retired in 2012 as Chief of Army Staff after serving the Indian Army for forty-two years.
Singh proves everyone wrong by embarking on this difficult mission overseas, in the process exhibiting his dedication for India and its citizens. Where the night rescue saw the Navy evacuate 349 Indians, its future missions will see as many as 4,000 Indians brought back safely to their homeland.
VK Singh’s integrity was wrongly questioned and many of his criticisers will have their apologies ready when Singh returns with the remaining Indian nationals from Yemen.
We salute you, Mr. Singh!
