BJP's Jaiveer Shergill urges MEA to rescue Sikh couples stranded in Tehran
Synopsis
Elderly Sikh couples are stranded at a gurudwara in Tehran, unable to board a May 5 Mahan Air flight because the airline demands GoI clearance. BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill has directly appealed to EAM S. Jaishankar to intervene — spotlighting a gap in India's West Asia evacuation outreach that extends beyond the Gulf's larger Indian diaspora.
Key Takeaways
BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill on 30 April 2025 appealed to MEA and EAM S.
Jaishankar to help elderly Sikh couples stranded at a gurudwara in Tehran, Iran .
Mahan Air has refused to board the passengers without explicit permission from the Government of India ; a flight is scheduled for 5 May .
Iran is home to an estimated 60–100 Sikh families , with a historic gurudwara located in Tehran .
Flight disruptions stem from US-Israel strikes on Iran , with airlines prioritising cargo or travel for their own nationals.
The Indian Embassy in Tehran has already facilitated the departure of more than 2,400 Indians amid the ongoing regional crisis.
Approximately 12.65 lakh passengers have travelled from the Gulf and West Asia region to India since 28 February , according to MEA.
BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill on Thursday, 30 April urged the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to urgently facilitate the return of elderly Sikh couples stranded at a gurudwara in Tehran, Iran. The appeal comes as regional tensions following US-Israel strikes on Iran have disrupted civilian flight operations, leaving the community with limited evacuation options.
What Shergill Demanded
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Shergill called for immediate government intervention to allow the stranded Sikh families to board a Mahan Air flight scheduled to operate from Tehran to India on 5 May. He noted that the airline has refused to board the passengers without explicit permission from the Government of India (GoI).
Point of View
Non-mainstream communities can fall through the cracks of large-scale evacuation logistics. The airline's insistence on GoI clearance before boarding is a bureaucratic chokepoint that MEA should have pre-empted with blanket advisories covering all Indian-origin passengers, regardless of religion or community size. Shergill's intervention is politically convenient for the BJP, but the underlying ask is legitimate and urgent.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Sikh couples stranded in Tehran and where are they?
They are elderly members of Iran's small Sikh community, currently sheltering at a gurudwara in Tehran. Iran is home to an estimated 60–100 Sikh families, with a historic gurudwara located in the capital.
Why is Mahan Air refusing to allow them to board the flight?
Mahan Air has stated it requires permission from the Government of India before boarding the passengers on its scheduled Tehran-to-India flight on 5 May. Such restrictions have emerged amid regional disruptions following US-Israel strikes on Iran.
What has BJP's Jaiveer Shergill asked the MEA to do?
Shergill has formally appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs and EAM S. Jaishankar to intervene and secure clearance so the stranded Sikh families can board the 5 May Mahan Air flight to India.
What is India's broader evacuation effort in West Asia?
The Indian government has repatriated approximately 12.65 lakh passengers from the Gulf and West Asia region since 28 February. The Indian Embassy in Tehran has separately facilitated the departure of more than 2,400 Indians, with missions operating round-the-clock helplines across the region.
Has the Indian government issued any travel advisory for Iran?
Yes. The government has advised Indian nationals to avoid travelling to Iran and has urged those currently in the country to leave via land borders. Regular advisories are being issued to keep Indians informed about changing local regulations and consular services.
