Srinagar, Mar 9: PDP leader Zuhaib Yousf Mir on Monday expressed concern over reports of Indian students stranded in Iran amid the ongoing regional tensions and urged the Government of India to ensure their safe and affordable evacuation.
In a post on X, Mir said the reports from Indian students in Iran were “deeply concerning”, claiming that many of them were being asked to travel to Armenia and then arrange their own flights to New Delhi at a cost of nearly ₹1.5 lakh per ticket, in addition to separate visa expenses.
“Many students simply cannot afford such huge costs during a crisis,” he said.
Mir said around 600 Indian students were currently stranded in Qum in Iran, while others were studying in different universities, including Arak University and Isfahan University.
He stated that evacuating around 1,200 to 1,300 students would cost roughly ₹20 crore, which he described as a manageable amount when lives and safety are at stake.
Referring to the evacuation during the Ukraine crisis, Mir said India had spent over ₹116 crore to bring back its citizens and urged the authorities to extend similar support in the present situation.
“Students should not be pressured to pay such huge sums in a crisis. We pay taxes expecting protection and support in emergencies,” he said.
Mir also said that many students from Jammu and Kashmir were among those stranded and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of J&K to intervene and ensure the safe evacuation of the students.
