Ministers hit back at US travel fiat on Odisha visit

BHUBANESWAR: A sudden travel advisory by the United States flagging security concerns in parts of Odisha and urging its citizens to be highly cautious while travelling has sparked an outrage in the state. Odisha is among 14 states where the US has advised its citizens to reconsider their travel plans.
Reacting sharply to the development, deputy chief minister and Tourism minister Pravati Parida said Odisha is a peaceful state and the advisory was unwarranted. However, such an advisory would have no impact on tourism as very few travellers from the US visit the state.
'The state attracts more tourists from Europe, Arabian and middle east countries and Australia besides the Asia, mostly from East, South and South-East Asia. However, the Ministry of External Affairs will take up the matter with the US counterparts,' Parida, who is also the Women and Child Development minister, told TNIE.
Minister for Science and Technology Krushna Chandra Patra also said Odisha is among the safest states in the country and any crime here is dealt with iron hand. Countering the grounds on which the US issued the advisory, he said, 'Is there no violence in America? The country too reports riots and mass shootings. Wasn't there an attack on Trump and the White House? How can they judge us and on what basis?'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

News18

an hour ago

• News18

Bihar Engineer Goes 'Missing' In Iran Amid Rising Tensions, Kin Seek Government Help

Last Updated: The young engineer, hailing from Siwan district in Bihar, last contacted his family on June 19 and mentioned tensions in the region but did not foresee dangers that would follow A 25-year-old engineer from Bihar, employed in Iran, has gone missing amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. The disappearance has raised serious concerns among his family members, who are now urgently appealing to the Indian government for help in securing his safe return. The young engineer, hailing from Siwan district in Bihar, last contacted his family on June 19, news agency IANS reported. According to his relatives, he mentioned growing tensions in the region but did not foresee the dangers that would follow. Since then, all attempts to reach him have been unsuccessful. His anxious family has made repeated pleas to the Indian government, specifically asking for the intervention of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). 'We haven't heard from him in days, and we are extremely worried," his father told IANS. 'Please help us bring him home safely." The engineer had been working on a project in Tehran for several months when the conflict began to intensify. His relatives are particularly concerned due to the volatile nature of the situation, which has led to widespread unrest and fears for the safety of foreign nationals, particularly in cities near military installations. Concerns Over Safety Amid Growing Tensions The escalating Iran-Israel conflict has made the region increasingly perilous for Indian nationals working in Iran. While the embassy in Tehran is actively monitoring the situation, the uncertainty surrounding the conflict has complicated efforts to reach missing citizens. In addition to diplomatic appeals, local political leaders from Bihar have voiced their support for the family, calling on the central government to act swiftly. Siwan's Member of Parliament, Sushil Kumar Modi, has promised to raise the issue in Parliament, urging the government to prioritise the safety of Indian workers in the region. MEA has confirmed that the Indian Embassy in Tehran is working with Iranian authorities to locate the missing engineer. An MEA spokesperson assured the family that all possible efforts are being made to track him down, but acknowledged the challenging environment created by the ongoing conflict. 'The safety of Indian nationals is our top priority, and we are in continuous contact with the relevant authorities in Iran to ensure their well-being," the spokesperson said. First Published: June 23, 2025, 16:07 IST

NDTV

2 hours ago

• NDTV

Bihar Engineer Goes Missing In Iran, Family Urges Centre For Help

New Delhi: An engineer from Bihar's Siwan has gone missing in Iran amid the Gulf country's ongoing conflict with Israel. The missing youth has been identified as Siraj Ali Ansari (25), a resident of Ramapali village in the Muffasil police station area. He works as a Quality Control Engineer in a petroleum company and was posted in Iran at the time of his disappearance. Talking to IANS, his father Hazrat Ali said that Siraj had travelled to Saudi Arabia and reached Iran from there on June 9. However, shortly after his arrival, tensions between Iran and Israel escalated into a conflict. The last communication from Siraj came on the afternoon of June 17, around 2 p.m., when he spoke to his father, Hazrat Ali. Since then, Siraj's phone has been switched off, and there has been no contact. "When we last spoke, he told me he was in a safe place, but there were bombings just one kilometre from where he was staying," said Hazrat Ali. "We are extremely worried. There has been no word from him since that day." Distressed by Siraj's disappearance, the family submitted a written appeal to the Siwan District Magistrate Aditya Prakash, requesting urgent intervention by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian government to ensure Siraj's safe return. His uncles, Shakeel Ahmad Ansari and Akhtar Ali Ansari, have also joined in appealing for government assistance. "I am going to meet the District Magistrate today," Hazrat Ali added. "My humble request to the Indian government and the Ministry of External Affairs is to evacuate my son and all other Indians who are currently stranded in the conflict zone." Siraj is unmarried and the eldest among two brothers and one sister. His disappearance has left his entire family deeply anxious. As the Iran-Israel conflict continues to intensify, families of Indians working in the region are growing increasingly concerned for the safety of their loved ones. As part of the ongoing Operation Sindhu, another batch of 285 nationals safely landed here on Sunday evening, taking the total number of Indians evacuated from Iran to 1,713.

The Hindu

3 hours ago

• The Hindu

Six Telangana residents return from Iran and Israel; seven more expected to reach New Delhi tonight

In response to the escalating crisis in the Middle East, the Telangana government has stepped up efforts to assist the State residents returning from conflict-hit regions. On Sunday (June 22, 2025) night, Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi facilitated the safe arrival and onward journey of six Telangana students — four from Iran and two from Israel. They were received at midnight and accommodated at Telangana Bhavan, where officials ensured their safety and comfort. All these six students boarded pre-booked flights to Hyderabad with assistance from the State's liaison officers on Monday (June 23) morning. Officials said seven more Telangana residents are expected to arrive in New Delhi on Monday night. These individuals had crossed over to Amman in Jordan from Israel and are now en route to India. Preparations are already in place at the airport and Telangana Bhavan to receive and assist them. However, several others remain stranded in Israel as operations remain stalled due to the temporary closure of Israeli airspace. Despite the logistical challenges, the Telangana government is in constant coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian embassies abroad to ensure the safety and eventual return of all its residents Helpline numbers The State government has announced on June 17 that it has activated a helpline at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi to assist and respond swiftly to any concerns related to the State residents who may be currently residing or traveling in the regions affected due to escalating geopolitical tensions and military developments in the Middle East, particularly between Iran and Israel. For any support or information, people were asked to reach out to Vandhana, PS to resident commissioner at +919871999044; G. Rakshith Naik, liaison officer at +919643723157; Javed Hussain, liaison officer at +919910014749 and CH. Chakravarthi, public relations officer at +919949351270. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy instructed officials to ensure that every returnee from the conflict zone receives timely aid, including accommodation, medical assistance if needed, and support for onward travel. He also urged the residents to rely solely on verified official communication and avoid spreading misinformation. The government has reiterated its solidarity with affected families and assured that all necessary steps are being taken to safeguard the lives and welfare of its people during this challenging period.