Have sought more rescue flights from Centre, TN tells HC

FOR TAMILS STUCK ABROAD

Have sought more rescue flights from Centre, TN tells HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 01.07.2020

A day after the Centre accused the Tamil Nadu government of refusing clearance to international rescue flights bringing back Indians stranded in various countries, the state government informed the Madras high court that it has requested the ministry of external affairs to arrange for more flights to land in the state.

Citing a communication dated June 27 issued by the P Senthil Kumar, principal secretary to Tamil Nadu government (FAC), government pleader V Jayaprakash Narayan submitted on Tuesday that the state has addressed the Union ministry of external affairs to arrange adequate Vande Bharath Mission flights to the state.

“.. only four flights have been arranged to evacuate stranded Tamils from UAE, Bahrain and Oman during June 27 to 29. More members of non-resident Tamils are still stranded in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman. Hence, I am directed to request you to kindly arrange adequate number of flights under the VBM/ ships from the above five countries to evacuate stranded Tamil people,” the communication said.

Recording the submissions, a division bench of Justice R Subbiah and Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy directed the state to file a status request as to the number of flights that are likely to be permitted and adjourned the hearing to July 2.

On Monday, the Centre informed the court that since TN government refused clearance for Vande Bharath flights, residents of the state are compelled to land in neighbouring states and then proceed to Tamil Nadu.

“The state government has requested that the number of flights to Chennai be restricted to two per day and not more than one to Trichy, Coimbatore and Madurai , to facilitate smooth reception and observance of Covid-19 protocol,” the ministry of external affairs said through a memo filed in the court.