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Badal seeks PM's intervention on detained Punjabis in Iraq

Staff Correspondent

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal president, Parkash Singh Badal has urged Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh to take up with the Iraqi authorities and other relevant international quarters the issue of Indian youth, including two from Punjab, who had reportedly been detained by the police there.

Reacting to media reports, Mr. Badal through a statement issued here on Sunday asked the Prime Minister to press the crisis resolution wing of the Ministry of External Affairs into action for a quick and effective response to the situation. The reports spoke of five Indians, including two Punjabis, languishing in Iraqi jail while it was not even clear for how long had they been facing this incarceration. There have also been disturbing reports about the boys actually having been abducted by ultras.

One of the two Punjabis, Sanjiv Kumar belonged to Authaula village near Jalandhar while the other, Gurvinder Singh Sony was from Bhagowal near Batala in Gurdaspur district. Mr. Badal today directed the local units of his party in these districts to remain in constant touch with the families of the two youth and offer all support and solidarity to them in the hour of crisis as well as ensure that pressure was brought to bear upon the government to seek a speedy solution to the problem.

Mr. Badal also spoke to the Akali Secretary General and former Union Minister, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, directing him to push the concerned authorities in the Government of India to treat the case as one of extreme sensitivity. He had also directed the Delhi unit of the party to activate its mechanism for solution of problems being faced by Punjabis migrating to other countries.

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