Our embassy in Libya trying best to assist Indian nationals, says MEA

Amid controversy over the evacuation of Indians back to Libya, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said," Indian embassy in Libya has been trying its best to assist Indian nationals,  who had opted to stay behind in Libya despite our regular advisories for them to exit during the evacuation carried out in August 2014."

Divulging details, MEA official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, "Regarding the Indian nationals who were in Zawiya, Libya, our embassy has constantly followed up the matter with the hospital as well as with the Ministry of Health of Libya."

"As you know, our embassy has been relocated to Djerba in Tunisia. Our Ambassador to Libya personally flew down to Tripoli on April 28 and met with the Chief of Protocol on the first working day after that on May 2, to resolve the matter," he said.

"It was thanks to the embassy's intervention that their salaries were paid, and their exit visas were issued, and they were able to safely return to India today by commercial airlines. This is our pious duty towards our citizens," Swarup added.

A controversy broke out on Thursday over the evacuation of Indians back to Libya when Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy attacked prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Swaraj in turn, attacked the Kerala CM on Twitter,

"We evacuated thousands of Indians from Kerala from Iraq, Libya and Yemen. Who paid for them? You said Kerala paid for 29 Indians evacuated from Libya. You started this debate- as to Who paid? Not me. We always did this because this is our pious duty towards our citizens," said Swaraj in a series of tweets.