The Ministry of External Affairs, India (MEA) is receiving a lot of queries on the manner in which the ministry is depicted in ‘Airlift’. It is shown that the diplomats were the first to leave Kuwait during the Gulf evacuation, where the real life story is based, and that everything fell upon the shoulders of the local Indians there, with Akshay Kumar emerging as the hero in the film.
Vikas Swarup, the Official Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, terms the film as a great one, but rather short on facts. He says, “Films often take liberties with actual events and facts. And this particular film has also taken in a lot of artistic liberties in the depiction of the events as they actually happened in Kuwait in 1990. Those who remember the evacuation would also know the very proactive role that the MEA played (then). I can vouch for this as I myself was on the front-lines of evacuating Indians from Kuwait who were coming into Turkey via Syria.”
In defence of the MEA, Vikas Swarup further adds, “The Ministry of External Affairs considers the protection of Indian citizens abroad as our foremost responsibility. We have done this in the past and (will) continue to do so in the future as well. We do hope that this film will inspire people to read about the actual events that took place and the very proactive role that the Ministry of External Affairs has always played in safeguarding the interests, concerns and security of Indian citizens who live and work abroad.”
As for its Bollywood part, Raja Menon directed ‘Airlift’ released on January 22 and is doing well at the box office.
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