Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday lambasted the Odisha government for ‘showing no urgency’ to secure the safe return of Odias stranded in West Asia amid the intensifying war.
In a strongly worded post on X, the BJD supremo highlighted the fear gripping thousands of Odia migrant workers, students, professionals, tourists, and travellers amid airspace closures, flight cancellations, and sealed borders. “I can feel the fear and anxiety of the millions of Odias trapped in the midst of the horrific war in the Middle East. From labourers to students, professionals, tourists, and travellers, they are all extremely terrified. Even their families and loved ones back in Odisha are sitting there, anxiously awaiting their return,” he wrote in Odia.
The conflict, which erupted on March 1 when the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran, has rapidly spread across the Gulf region. Iranian retaliatory strikes have targeted cities, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait, leading to widespread disruptions in global air travel.
While questioning the silence of the Mohan Majhi government over the issue, Naveen further stated. “In such untimely circumstances, it is the duty of the Odisha government to safely bring back all Odias. However, the government’s failure to show any such urgency, to take swift steps, is only making their plight even more difficult.”
He further took a swipe at the ruling party’s emphasis on “Odia Asmita” (Odia pride), a key campaign slogan during the 2024 assembly elections that ousted his BJD from power. “Where has that pompous speech on ‘Odia Asmita’ gone? Can’t it stand firmly with the people of Odisha in such a difficult time?” he added, urging immediate action to reassure families and save lives.
Later speaking to the media, the LoP reiterated: “I understand that there are lakhs of Odia people stranded in the Middle East countries. I request the government of Odisha and India to take immediate steps to see that they return to their homes in India…”
The remarks come amid a broader national effort to evacuate Indian nationals from the region. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reported that over 52,000 Indians have been safely repatriated since March 1. The government has set up control rooms and issued advisories.
Nearly 9-10 million Indians reside in the Gulf, forming one of the largest diaspora communities. Thousands of Odias work as labourers and professionals in countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, contributing remittances that bolster the state’s economy.
Earlier on March 2, Naveen had appealed to the central government and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for swift evacuation measures, emphasising the risks posed by disrupted connectivity.
Though the Odisha government has not yet issued an official response to his latest criticism, the state officials have previously indicated coordination with the MEA for repatriation efforts. A working group has also been formed to closely monitor the situation in the war-torn region and coordinate the safe evacuation of Odia residents stranded across various countries there. Pritish Panda has been designated as the Nodal Officer for Odisha Mo Parivar to handle information and assistance requests from Odia people.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had also held discussions with the Centre regarding safe return of people from Odisha residing in or stranded in the war-torn zone.
Meanwhile, 24 tourists from Odisha, including 22 of them from Berhampur, who were stranded in Dubai for four days returned home safely on Saturday night. This came a day after Berhampur MP Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure their safe return. The group, which includes senior citizens and an 11-year-old child, had travelled to Dubai on February 25 for a holiday and was scheduled to return on March 2. They, however, were left stranded there due to closure of the airspace after the air strikes.
