Stranded Indians Return from Israel Amid Cheers of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’
In a heartening display of national pride (‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’) and unity, stranded Indian citizens returned from Israel, expressing their gratitude to the Indian government for their safe repatriation. The chartered flight, part of ‘Operation Ajay,’ landed at Delhi’s airport, bringing 212 Indians back to their homeland.
Chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ resonated through the airport as the passengers disembarked, showcasing their unwavering love for their country. The emotional homecoming was captured in a video shared by the news agency ANI, spreading a wave of patriotism across the nation.
These Indians had faced unprecedented challenges while living in Israel during the ongoing conflict with Hamas. One passenger shared, “This is the first time that we are facing such a situation over there. We are very thankful to the Indian government, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for bringing us back. We are hoping for peace as soon as possible so that we can go back to work as early as possible.”
#WATCH | Chants of 'Vande Matram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' by passengers on the first flight carrying 212 Indian nationals from Israel. The flight landed at Delhi airport earlier today.
— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2023
(Video Source: Passenger) pic.twitter.com/qZSMyPZmwS
Shashwat Singh, who had been residing in Israel since 2019, expressed his uncertainty about the conflict’s future, saying, “We woke up to sounds of air raid sirens. We stay in central Israel. I don’t know what shape this conflict will take.”
One poignant moment involved an Indian woman returning to India with her 5-month-old son, who was pursuing a post-doctorate course in Israel with her husband. She shared her reasons for returning, saying, “We live in the southern part of the city. It’s safe… But because of him (her son), we decided to come back to India.”
Recounting the chaos that ensued during the Hamas attacks, she added, “On the first day, we were sleeping and at around 6:30, there was a siren. For the two years we had been there, we had not experienced that much chaos. And with my son, it is hard. But we managed… We ran to a shelter and were there for, I guess, two hours when we heard another siren.”
‘Operation Ajay’ was initiated by the Indian government in response to the escalating conflict in Israel, which began on October 7. Air India and other airlines had suspended all commercial operations to and from Israel due to safety concerns.
Under ‘Operation Ajay,’ special chartered flights are being arranged to bring back stranded Indian citizens, with the Indian Navy ships on standby if the need arises. Approximately 18,000 Indians, including students, professionals, and traders, were residing in Israel, making their safe return a top priority for the government.
As the nation welcomes back its citizens, the fervent chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ serve as a poignant reminder of the unwavering spirit and unity that define India in challenging times.