Prime Minister Modi’s Visit to Russia Brings Hope for Trapped Indians
Gurdaspur (Punjab) [India], July 10: After Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Balwinder Singh, the father of Gagandeep Singh, an Indian youth trapped in the Russian army, expressed hope for the stranded Indians in war-torn Russia.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi addressed the issue of Indian nationals being recruited into the Russian army. The Russian government has assured an early discharge of these Indians from army service, according to Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra.
Balwinder Singh shared that he learned about PM Modi’s visit to Russia through media reports and a phone call from his son, Gagandeep Singh. Gagandeep informed his father that the trapped Indians are sent to battlegrounds and kept in bunkers, which are defensive military fortifications.
“My son told me over the phone that the trapped Indians are sent to battlegrounds, handed guns and grenades, and kept in bunkers. However, with Prime Minister Modi’s visit, there is now a ray of hope for our trapped countrymen in the Russian army,” said Balwinder Singh.
Several Indians were allegedly tricked into fighting in Russia’s war with Ukraine under the guise of lucrative jobs. In April, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) busted a major human trafficking network that targeted Indian nationals, promising high-paying jobs abroad but sending them to the Russia-Ukraine war zone instead.
Prime Minister Modi, on an official visit to Russia and Austria, held a bilateral meeting with President Putin. Emphasizing the importance of peace, PM Modi stated that solutions are not found on the battlefield and that peace talks cannot succeed amid violence.
“As a friend, I have always said that for the bright future of our coming generations, peace is of utmost importance. But I also know that solutions are not possible on battlegrounds. Amid bombs, guns, and bullets, solutions and peace talks do not succeed. We will have to follow the path to peace only through talks,” said PM Modi.
This visit marks PM Modi’s first trip to Russia since the war between Moscow and Kyiv began in 2022. India has consistently advocated for peace and diplomacy to resolve conflicts.
