Tensions in the Middle East have taken a dangerous turn, thrusting nearly 10,000 Indians in Iran into the crosshairs of conflict. CPI Rajya Sabha member Santosh Kumar has fired off a strongly worded letter to Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, seeking immediate answers on protection measures amid US-Israel assaults on Iranian targets.
Saturday’s coordinated strikes on Tehran’s capital and other urban centers marked a grim escalation, met swiftly by Iranian missiles on American installations in the Gulf. For Indians residing in this volatile hotspot—ranging from traders to engineers—the risks are mounting fast.
In his communication, Kumar expresses profound worry over the fallout from these attacks and the burgeoning regional strife. “Security, safety, and welfare of approximately 10,000 Indian citizens must be the top priority,” he asserts, advocating for comprehensive contingency plans.
Key recommendations include emergency response protocols, live updates for citizens, tight embassy linkages, and organized evacuation if the situation deteriorates further. He highlights the distress rippling through families in India, demanding transparency on governmental interventions.
Beyond the human element, Kumar flags India’s deep stakes: massive investments in connectivity projects and Iran’s role as a cornerstone ally in energy and trade. Sustained chaos threatens these ties, yet he pivots to an unequivocal appeal—prioritize lives.
The Rajya Sabha leader implores the ministry to own this responsibility and engage diplomatically for resolution. Meanwhile, India’s diplomatic machinery has activated with cautionary advisories across the Gulf, assuring round-the-clock support from consular teams. Kumar’s intervention underscores a pressing national concern as global powers clash.