Deeply concerned to note that no flights to Tamil Nadu are scheduled in this leg of #VandeBharatMission Hon'ble @DrSJaishankar Urge you to...

DMK president M.K. Stalin expressed profound concern over the total absence of Tamil Nadu destinations in the newly announced flight schedules under the central government's Vande Bharat Mission. Writing directly to Union External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, Stalin urged the central administration to immediately operate dedicated repatriation flights to Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, and Coimbatore to bring back thousands of overseas Tamils stranded in foreign countries.

Stalin highlighted that large numbers of migrant laborers, domestic workers, students, and pregnant women from Tamil Nadu were stranded across the Gulf countries, Southeast Asia, and Europe without income, visas, or access to basic healthcare during the pandemic lockdown. Through distress representations received via the Ondrinaivom Vaa international helpdesk, the DMK documented severe hardship endured by expatriate workers who faced starvation, job termination, and homelessness while desperately awaiting evacuation back to their homeland.

Stalin appealed to the External Affairs Minister to eliminate all administrative delays, prioritize stranded citizens in distress, and expand flight operations to Tamil Nadu airports. He stressed that safeguarding overseas citizens during international emergencies remains a paramount constitutional obligation that requires swift, compassionate diplomatic intervention.