Foul Play? China Deliberately Delaying India’s Third Flight To Wuhan; Allows Flight From Japan, France, Ukraine

The Chinese authorities seems to be delaying the clearance to third relief flight from India to Wuhan, reports the Economic Times.

Although the Chinese authorities claim otherwise, the very fact that they are yet to clear the flight when the date of flight proposed originally was February 20, hints towards an attempt to deliberately delay the plan.

It should be noted that India first requested for flight on 13 February and the flight plan was submitted on 15 February.

Additionally, as per reports 3 flights have taken off from Wuhan during the same period --16 Feb for Japan; 19 Feb for Ukraine and 20th Feb for France.

“Indian nationals are waiting to be brought back from Wuhan. The uncertainty is causing anxiety and mental stress. China should grant clearance to the relief flight which can bring the Indian nationals back,” a source was quoted by ET.

Notably, India had earlier announced that it will send Indian Air Force's largest plane, C-17 Globemaster, with medical supplies to Wuhan, and bring back its nationals as well as citizens from all neighbouring countries who were still stuck there on the return flight.

In the past month, India has evacuated 647 Indian nationals, 7 Maldivians and few other Bangladeshi nationals aboard its two evacuation missions.