(a) whether Indians who inadvertently get stranded at foreign airports get little assistance from Indian Embassies as reported in the Hindi daily `Nav Bharat Times` dated June 20, 2004;
(b) if so, whether any inquiry has been conducted by the Government in this regard;
(c) if so, the details and the outcome thereof; and
(d) the action taken/proposed to be taken against the guilty officials?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED)
(a) Indian nationals including the persons referred to in the news item stranded at foreign airports do receive all possible assistance from the Indian Embassies.
(b) Yes, Sir.
(c) On receipt of information, an official in the Indian Embassy, Paris, coordinated with both Emirates and US Airlines and also contacted the relatives in India to request them to organise money for the purchase of tickets.
(d) Enquiry has revealed that the Embassy official rendered necessary assistance to the stranded couple.