The Hindu : National : Sustained efforts will secure release of hostages: Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 26, 2004

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Sustained efforts will secure release of hostages: Minister

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, JULY 25. The Minister of State for External Affairs, Rao Inderjit Singh, today expressed the hope that the three Indians being held hostage in Iraq would be released soon as a result of the "sustained efforts" of the Central Government.

Without giving details of the Government's efforts, Mr. Singh told mediapersons here that the Kuwaiti company which had employed the Indian nationals had ceased its operations in the region from where the three Indians, along with four others, were kidnapped. This was one of the main demands of the kidnappers.

"A monitoring committee in the External Affairs Ministry is constantly working to ensure the safe return of our citizens," Mr. Singh said, while not commenting on the reasons for the Iraqi group taking the Indians hostage.

Asked whether it could be linked to a perception about the possible shift in India's stand vis-à-vis sending troops to Iraq, Mr. Singh said India was committed to not sending its troops.

"The observations attributed to the External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, recently were only regarding the United Nations coming in the picture," Mr. Singh said and added that the Government was examining the issue of Indian citizens going abroad in search of employment and getting trapped there.

There was no proposal now to enact any law to regulate the migration for jobs, but the Government was worried about people leaving for foreign countries without proper documents.

Referring to the proposal for reopening the road and rail link with Pakistan through Munabao in Rajasthan, Mr. Singh hoped that the composite dialogue with Islamabad on all the issues would lead to the progress in this matter as well.

Mr. Singh, who was here for a day to attend a function of the National Students' Union of India, referred to the enactment of law by the Punjab Government terminating all water-sharing agreements with the neighbouring States and said it was a "unilateral decision" which would hurt the interests of Rajasthan already facing drought.

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