Yemen Rescue Operation: Time to Rejoice in National Pride

The struggle for dominance in Yemen between the Sunni and Zaidi Shia sects has accentuated into a civil war and has now turned into a Regional conflict.  Fearing Iranian dominance on the situation, Saudi Arabia launched an extensive air raid, killing people indiscriminately.  When the danger to life escalated, most western embassies closed shop and left the country with their staff.  By mid March 2015, Yemen had become a lawless land and the fate of thousands of Indians working in the country hung in a delicate balance.

The Government of India made a historic decision of risking the odds and attempting to rescue the compatriots.  On March 31st, Gen. V.K. Singh was sent to Yemen to coordinate operation 'Rahat'.  Air India, Indian Air Force, two merchant vessels, warships Destroyer Mumbai and stealth frigage Tarkash, INS Sumitra and Indian Shipping Corporation's Kavaratti and Corals were all pressed into service to save the lives of Indians caught in the conflict.  Prime Minister Modi called the King of Saudi Arabia to halt the air strikes at the time of critical rescue.  Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj monitored the situation minute by minute.  Gen. V.K. Singh roamed the streets in Yemen personally to locate and pull out Indians in trouble. Looking at Indian determination, 26 nations reached out to India, including USA, Germany and France to help rescue their citizens.

While a host of commercial airlines in India were vying to book profits, Air India carried 488 people through special flights from Sana'a to India on April 5th.  On one haul, it evacuated 574 people from Sana'a to Djibouti, described as the single largest evacuation by air anywhere in the world in a single day.  Indian Air Force helicopter C-17 on April 2nd, brought back 358 Indians.  The lifeboats of the ships went into the harbour under constant cross-firing and bombing to ferry thousands of Indians into the ships, so that they could be brought to India.  At the end, Indian Railways offered free trips to the evacuees to reach home safely, besides receiving appropriate financial support.

This is a matter of immense national pride and is unprecedented in the history of free India.  Most nations took a bow at the courage, valour, determination and timely action of India.  But it is a crying shame that sections of Indian media and the political opposition would not celebrate this grand display of patriotism and humanitarian concern.  It is a shame that many of them continued to bathe in negativity and trivial pursuits of populism, even in this situation of grave concern and commendable nationalism.

Most of India has felt honoured to share the historic national pride. But some in the Media and in the Opposition have shamed themselves with their irrational neglect.

V K Saxena

President 

National Council for Civil Liberties

Ahmedabad