Srinagar, Mar 04: Parents of the Kashmiri students studying in various colleges of Iran where all but one province are thus far affected by the coronavirus, which has claimed nearly hundred lives in the country, Wednesday staged protests here to press for the evacuation of their children.
The visibly depressed parents holding placards in their hands which read “Evacuate our children”, gathered at the Lal Chowk here and staged peaceful protest to press for the early evacuation of their children from Iran.
They appealed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, to ensure their children are brought back from Iran, which is the second country seriously hit by coronavirus, after China.
Ahmad from Alasteng area of Srinagar said he is apprehensive about the safety of his daughter who studies at Sheraz College of Medical Sciences in Iran. He said since the disease is serious and has claimed thousands of lives so far, chances of Kashmiri students getting infected may not be ruled out.
“We know that Iran despite facing serious situation at the moment makes all-out efforts to prevent people from deadly coronavirus. Our children who study there insist for their early evacuation. They are stuck in hostels as the authorities have restricted their movement,” said Ahmad.
Bashir Ahmad, another parent from Magam Budgam, said the government keeping in view the consequences of deadly coronavirus must ensure that no Kashmiri who studies or works in Iran gets infected.
“We want our children to be evacuated as early as possible; there is every possibility of them contracting coronavirus. Government must bring back our children from Iran. We cannot even think of our children getting infected and dying there,” said Bashir.
