Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's gesture has won hearts as he has given a traditional welcome to the students who had arrived in Chennai from Ukraine on Saturday - March 12. It has become the last batch of the influx of students from the European country that has been suffering casualties, devastations, and displacements after the Russian invasion. 

Several countries have been carrying out the evacuation drive to rescue their citizens from Ukraine in the midst of the falling of major cities to the invasion. India has initiated Operation Ganga to evacuate the Indians from Ukraine and thousands of Indian people, most of them are students, have been successfully evacuated from the country in a few days and these students are being transported to their respective states. 

On Friday evening, the special Indian Air Force flight involved in the operation has landed in Delhi from Ukraine with hundreds of Indians on board of which nine students belong to Tamil Nadu. Upon the arrival, the Tamil Nadu students were welcomed by the representatives of the Tamil Nadu government at the Delhi  Airport and they were taken to the state government's guest house in Delhi. 

At 6 am on Saturday - March 12, nine students and the representatives of the Tamil Nadu government had boarded an Air India flight from Delhi and landed in Chennai at 9 am. The students were welcomed by Chief Minister MK Stalin and his gesture has been winning hearts. Joined by a few ministers at the airport, MK Stalin has provided a traditional welcome to the students and he also had honoured the MPs who went to Delhi and carried out the process of evacuating the Tamil Nadu people from Ukraine. 

The Chief Minister gave a flower bouquet to every student and welcomed them with folded hands. The students were in tears and had thanked MK Stalin for bringing them back to India safely. Speaking to a news agency, a student native of Karaikudi said, "We thank all the Indian government and state government officials for helping us to return to India. A big thanks to all the volunteers in Ukraine who had helped us by serving food and water when we were clueless about what to do."

Another student from Arakkonam said, "The special team which was formed by the Tamil Nadu government was in touch with us from day one and they were very supportive and guided us throughout the process. The Indian government officials who were in Ukraine were also supportive to us and we are thankful for all the government officials."

Chief Minister MK Stalin has also released a video on Twitter welcoming the students. He wrote, "All the Tamil Nadu students in Ukraine have been safely rescued. I have welcomed the last batch of students who returned home today. I reiterate the Union government to help these students to continue their education in our country. Tamil Nadu government will provide appropriate cooperation." 

In another tweet, MK Stalin had thanked Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr S Jaishankar and the Union government for bringing back the Indian students from Ukraine. He wrote, "My heartfelt thanks to Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr S Jaishankar who helped in rescuing our students amidst the crisis, and to the members of Legislative Assembly and Members of Parliament, and officials who worked tirelessly day and night." 

நெருக்கடி மிகுந்த சூழலுக்கிடையே நம் மாணவர்கள் அனைவரையும் விரைவாக மீட்க உதவிய வெளியுறவுத்துறை அமைச்சர் @DrSJaishankar, இரவுபகல் பாராமல் உழைத்த தமிழ்நாடு அரசின் குழுவைச் சேர்ந்த சட்டமன்ற - நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்கள், அதிகாரிகள் உள்ளிட்ட அனைவருக்கும் எனது நெஞ்சார்ந்த நன்றிகள். pic.twitter.com/LwiCWs6D7g

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 12, 2022