Ahead of Putin’s visit, Nagaur MP urges Centre to bring back 61 Indians from Russia
Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour, Beniwal drew External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s attention to what he described as a serious humanitarian matter.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour, Beniwal drew External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s attention to what he described as a serious humanitarian matter.
(Photo: X/@hanumanbeniwal)
A day before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India, Nagaur MP and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party chief Hanuman Beniwal on Wednesday urged the Centre to initiate diplomatic efforts to secure the safe return of 61 Indian students from Russia.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour, Beniwal drew External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s attention to what he described as a serious humanitarian matter.
Beniwal said that these youths, including several from Rajasthan had travelled to Russia on study and work visas but were allegedly deceived by agents and pushed into military roles in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
According to Beniwal, the families of these Indians have not been contact with the missing men for the last three to four months. They have repeatedly appealed to the government, staging protests at the Ministry of External Affairs on November 3 and December 1, and holding sit-ins at Jantar Mantar to highlight their distress.
Beniwal told the House that he has already communicated the issue to the MEA and has urged the Centre to initiate immediate talks with the Russian government to secure the safe evacuation of the youths. He also demanded swift action against the agents who allegedly lured young men with false promises of employment and then routed them into a war zone.
The issue has gained urgency in recent days after videos surfaced from Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab, in which young men claimed they had been tricked into joining the Ukraine war. In response to such incidents, the Ministry of External Affairs issued an advisory on September 11 warning citizens not to fall for offers leading to recruitment into the Russian military, stressing that doing so was tantamount to risking one’s life.
Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions.
Expertise and Experience
Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public.
Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas:
Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight.
Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women.
Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use.
Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More
