Naidu praises Jaishankar's quick response in bringing back stranded Indians from Malaysia

Telegu Desam Party chief and former CM N Chandrababu Naidu thanked External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday for his efforts to bring back Telugu students, in particular, and all or Indians who were left stranded at Kuala Lumpur airport after Centre banned entry of flights from Malaysia in a bid to contain vel coronavirus outbreak.

'...will be remembered by Telugu people'

"At outset, I would like to thank you on behalf of people of Andhra Pradesh and on my own personal behalf for efforts you have rendered in getting back number of Indians in general and Telugu people in particular from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Your quick response and coordination to bring back stranded Indians from Kuala Lumpur airport is highly appreciable and will be remembered by Telugu people," Naidu wrote in a letter dated March 18, 2020, and addressed to External Affairs Minister.

Around 250 to 300 Indians are stranded in Kuala Lumpur airport and many of m are students en route to India from Philippines. "I also take this opportunity to thank your team and Air Asia for rendering service of bringing back our people to home during se troubled times. special flight to Visakhapatnam in addition to Delhi would allow our children to reach home safer and faster," Naidu added.

On late Tuesday evening, S Jaishankar anunced that Centre has allowed an Air Asia flight from Kuala Lumpur to land in Visakhapatnam carrying all 250 Indians who were stuck at Kuala Lumpur airport. Souast Asia is facing a wave of infections that originate from an event at a mosque on outskirts of Kuala Lumpur attended by some 16,000 people. Malaysia w has biggest outbreak in region. Beginning a 14-day partial lockdown from Wednesday, country has so far reported 673 confirmed cases of coronavirus.

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World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday praised Indian government's commitment to combat vel coronavirus -- a pandemic which has infected more than 168,000 people and killed over 7500 globally. India has so far reported 152 cases of vel coronavirus, while three people have died in country.

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(With ncy inputs)