52 Indian MBBS students deported from East European nation, Georgia; MEA steps in

NEW DELHI, APRIL 11: As many as 52 of the 62 Indian students headed for studying MBBS in the East European Nation, Georgia have been deported from the National Capital, Tbilisi Airport. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is pursuing the matter with the Georgian Government.

In the written complaint to the MEA, students and parents have alleged that only 10 of the 62 students were permitted entry in the country after they were profiled by their skin colours and heights. As per the complaint, 10 dark-skinned and short height students were handpicked and were given the entry, while others weren’t allowed even after they presented the Georgian officials with the requisite documents.

The complaint has alleged that other 52 students who were held back, were further sent back to India. “Despite having the valid D3 visa (education visa), for which we had to wait for good 6 months, we weren’t permitted inside the country. We felt very insulted," expressed the distressed students.

Parents also brought to fore that they have submitted the huge tuition fees of INR 25 to 30 lakhs for the MBBS education in Georgia and now they are left in a lurch.

Union Minister of External Affairs tweeted after several messages were sent to her, she wrote, "I am aware of this case. Indian Embassy has taken this up with the Georgian authorities. They are pursuing this matter. I have asked for a further update on this."

Students have also alleged that they were mistreated by Georgian officials after being separated from immigration queues and then were sent back to India. Angered guardians and parents of these students, including Kishore Patil, Dheeraj Patil and Prashant Kamlakar from Pune, Maharashtra, have brought this incident to the attention of Minister of External Affairs (MEA), Sushma Swaraj.

The students have alleged that they weren’t allowed even the basic necessities as fundamental as using washrooms and drinking water. Students have further complained that their passports were also held back by flight attendants on which they were sent back on the orders of Georgian airport officials. They were handed back their passports only after arriving in Delhi.