This tweet by the former IPS officer created a ruckus on social media.
new Delhi, The war between Russia and Ukraine has started. Thousands of Indian citizens and students are stranded in Ukraine. At the same time, the Indian government is trying to expel its people from Ukraine. Many people were also expelled from Ukraine. But, many people are still waiting for help. Meanwhile, a debate has started on social media over the tweet of a retired IPS officer and former DGP of Kerala.
read also
Actually, former IPS officer Dr. NC Asthana had tweeted about Indian citizens and students trapped in Ukraine. He wrote in his tweet, “Indian government has only moral responsibility, no legal responsibility, to rescue students trapped in Ukraine. Stop criticizing the government unnecessarily. He had gone for his personal interest. If an Indian is in danger in Antarctica or the deep sea, should the Indian government evacuate him?”
GOI has only moral responsibility for the evacuation of students in Ukraine, NO LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY. Stop criticizing the government unnecessarily. They had gone for their personal interests. If some Indian is in danger in Antarctica or in deep sea, is GOI supposed to evacuate him?
— Dr. NC Asthana, IPS (Retd) (@NcAsthana) February 24, 2022
This tweet by the former IPS officer created a ruckus on social media. Many people are reacting to the tweet of the former IPS officer. One user (@Mihir23760756) wrote – “With this logic, the Indian government unnecessarily wasted its resources by airlifting 1.7 lakh people from Kuwait in 1990 during the Iraq-Kuwait conflict, because all those people Went there to earn more money than I wanted.”
GOI is reaponsible for safety and well-being of any person (incl tourists) ONLY AS LONG AS THEY ARE ON INDIAN TERRITORY, NOT IN ANY CORNER OF THE WORLD! Duffers must know, foolish sentiments cannot override legal considerations. GOI may do something ex gratia but not binding.
— Dr. NC Asthana, IPS (Retd) (@NcAsthana) February 24, 2022
In response to this, IPS officer Asthana wrote, ‘The Indian government has never said that it will not do its best to evacuate from Ukraine. But if a person gets injured during this time, then the Government of India cannot be blamed. Understand the difference between mercy and legal obligation, Lord. Spend crores in mercy, but it cannot be done with a stick. War Zone has some constraints.
Presently, Ukraine is sovereign. We can do anything only with their permission and priorities. Their own citizens are fleeing left right and center creating traffic jams. We can’t, even morally, demand a priority use of their endangered airports. These guys know only cribbing.
— Dr. NC Asthana, IPS (Retd) (@NcAsthana) February 24, 2022
The former IPS made several more tweets one after the other. In a tweet, he wrote- ‘The Government of India is responsible for the safety and well-being of any person (including tourists) as long as they are in Indian territory, not in any corner of the world! Duffers should know, silly feelings can’t overwhelm legal ideas. The Government of India can do some grace but not binding.
Many illiterates misunderstand what is printed on the passports. It is an appeal, a prayer to foreign governments to help the Indian citizen in case of need, NOT AN OBLIGATION of tbe GOI! By God, 200 yrs of the Brits and 74 ofhe GOI hve bn wasted–educatuion failed to enlighten Indians
— Dr. NC Asthana, IPS (Retd) (@NcAsthana) February 24, 2022
In another tweet, he writes- ‘Currently, Ukraine is sovereign. We can do anything with their permission and preferences. Their own citizens are running away, there is a traffic jam in the city. We cannot, even morally, demand priority use of their endangered airports.
What the GOI did for Indians abroad during Covid was gratis and they must be eternally grateful for that even if they paid fare. Legally, the GOI is responsible ONLY for embassy and such government servants abroad, NOT for pvt citizens. May sound heartless but THAT IS the legal reality
— Dr. NC Asthana, IPS (Retd) (@NcAsthana) February 24, 2022
He further writes- ‘Many illiterate misunderstand what is printed on the passport. This is an appeal, a request to foreign governments to help Indian citizens when needed, not the responsibility of the Indian government! 200 years of British and 74 years of Indian government wasted, education failed to enlighten Indians.’
At the same time, he also said- ‘What the Government of India did for Indians abroad during COVID was free of cost and they should always be grateful for it, even if they paid the rent. Legally, the Government of India is only responsible for such government employees in the embassy and abroad, and not for private citizens. It may sound ruthless but it is a legal reality.