India should have evacuated Indians from Afghanistan much earlier, says Yechury

The CPI (M) leader also demanded that the government provide information on the steps taken to ensure the safety of Indian citizens there

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Tuesday criticised the Central government for its alleged failure in planning the evacuation of Indians from Afghanistan much earlier, as the airspace was shut down following the takeover of the country by the Taliban. Mr. Yechury arrived at Coimbatore for a two-day State Committee meeting of the CPI(M). Speaking to mediapersons prior to the meeting, he said that many countries evacuated their citizens after witnessing the rapid advances made by the Taliban in Afghanistan. “At least for 10 days or two weeks now, it was evident what was going to happen. What were our pre-emptive moves?” he asked. Describing the situation in Afghanistan as a “grave humanitarian problem,” he demanded that the Central government provide information on the steps taken to ensure the safety of Indian citizens there.