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Deputy CM Shivakumar urged Kannada organisations abroad to provide “confidence to the stranded people”, as the closure of major transit hubs continues to disrupt travel & commerce
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar. (Image: PTI/File)
The escalating conflict in the Middle East has sparked a fierce diplomatic and humanitarian response from Karnataka’s top leadership, as thousands of Kannadigas remain stranded amidst rising regional tensions.
Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar issued a stern rebuke of the recent military strikes on an Iranian educational facility, which reportedly claimed the lives of over 70 children. Speaking to reporters at his Sadashivanagar residence, Shivakumar stated, “The war in Middle East is not right. Why attack school children who are at no fault? This is condemnable.”
He emphasised that the focus must now shift immediately to the safety of Indian nationals, noting that “it is time to rescue Indians stuck in Dubai and other parts of Middle East”, and confirmed that several state legislators, including MLC Bhoje Gowda, are among those currently unable to return.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah echoed this sense of urgency while sharply criticising the geopolitical contradictions of Western intervention. During a press briefing at the Shivamogga airport, the chief minister took aim at the United States’ involvement in the strikes, labelling their foreign policy as inherently contradictory. “The US has an opposite stance; on one hand, it only chants about peace, and on the other, it wages war,” Siddaramaiah remarked, further describing the attack on Iran as “unnecessary”. The chief minister also expressed his condolences regarding the Iranian leadership, stating, “President Ayatollah Khamenei has been killed, and I pray that his soul rests in eternal peace.”
As the state government coordinates with the Ministry of External Affairs, the welfare of the diaspora remains the primary concern for the administration in Bengaluru. Shivakumar highlighted the deep economic and personal ties between Karnataka and the Gulf, noting that “Saudi Arabia runs on Indians” and that “every other family from Mangaluru or Kerala work in Middle East”. He has called upon the Union government to lead the evacuation efforts, asserting that “State and Centre can’t have separate helplines; Ministry of External Affairs must open the helpline”.
Shivakumar also urged Kannada organisations abroad to provide “confidence to the people stranded there”, as the closure of major transit hubs like Dubai continues to disrupt travel and commerce.
Siddaramaiah reassured the public that the state is working tirelessly to ensure no citizen is left behind. He confirmed that he has been in direct contact with officials and stranded individuals, including MLC Bhoje Gowda, who reported being safe in a hotel. “We are in constant contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that the Kannadigas trapped in the Arab countries are brought back without any trouble,” the chief minister said. He specifically mentioned that arrangements are being prioritised for 30 people from Ballari currently stuck in the region, promising that as soon as the Dubai airport resumes operations, “arrangements will be made to bring them back safely to India”.
March 02, 2026, 10:34 IST
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