External Affairs Minister’s response to the points raised on Calling Attention Motion on ‘Situation arising out of Indians stranded in Iraq and steps taken by the Government in this regard’ in L

External Affairs Minister’s response to the points raised on Calling Attention Motion on Situation arising out of Indians stranded in Iraq and steps taken by the Government in this regard in Lok Sabha on July 24, 2014 is as follows:

The three honorable Members who brought this Calling Attention Motion, at the very outset, thanked the Government for its initiative in the matter. I would like to earnestly thank them all as it is very rare that such voices of appreciation are heard from the opposition. I am highly glad by the fact that the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Kerala stayed here for two days, met me four times and we together chalked out a strategy to deal with this issue. Thereafter, he not only expressed his gratitude publicly, but also got a motion passed in the Kerala assembly applauding the efforts of the Union Government in the matter. This is genuinely rare. He manifested a great amount of magnanimity and admitted the good work done by the Ministry of External Affairs. Thereafter, some issues have been raised by some hon. Members which are quite justified. An honorable Member has stated that all the 41 captives belong to Punjab, but that is not so. Out of these 41 captives, 31 are from Punjab, four from Himachal Pradesh, four from Bihar and two from West Bengal.

I divide the captives in Iraq into three broad categories. The first category is of safe. The second category is that of captives and the third one is of those who are stranded in Iraq. Safe are those who are in Kurdistan where there is no civil war like situation and the best part of it is that 15,000 out of 22,000 people are there in Kurdistan and they are safe. There are 41 captives with whom the Government has no direct contact. The remaining people who are being termed as stranded, are not all trapped. Stranded among those are who want to come back to India, but when they approach their companies, then the owner of the company does not give them their passports and that is why they cannot come to India or those who have got the passports from their owners, but do not have money to purchase their air tickets. Therefore, these two kinds of people who either do not have passports or money to purchase the tickets can be categorized as stranded. As far as stranded are concerned, I can state with full responsibility that the officers & staff of our embassy there are providing emergency certificates and travel documents to those who want to come back to India but do not have their passports. Those who do not have money are also being provided air tickets. Not only that, the Resident Commissioner of the concerned State and the officers of my Ministry receive them here in Delhi and then they are taken to their respective State Bhawans and they are also given air tickets up to the town they want to go in India.

I was stunned to know from hon. Member that I have quoted two different figures i.e. 2065 and 4000 and there is a mismatch in the figures I have quoted. Since people are pouring in every day, therefore, the figure is changing every day. Today on 24th July, I am giving the figures of 22nd July. If I give the figure of 24th July, then 150 odd people will be added to that figure. Therefore, this is not a case of any mismatch. I am saddened to hear from him that the Ministry of External Affairs does not have any record. I would like to tell the hon. Member that I have full record as to how many people have returned and to which state they belong. I could give you the state-wise break up.

As far as 41 captives are concerned, then I could say that we do not have direct contact with them, but I could say on the basis of some other sources that they are safe and alive and are also getting regular meals. As far as meeting their family members personally and as to what the Government of Punjab is doing in this regard, I would say that the Government of Punjab has shown far more concern, may be more than the Government of Kerala, for these 41 captives. I would like to say that the Chief Minister of Punjab has met me thrice on this issue. The delegation of the Shiromani Akali Dal escorted by members of 27 families has been frequently meeting me pressing for the safe return of these captives. I spent an hour and half with them telling them all details about their safety.

An honorable Member also asked as to what is the action plan for their rescue, I would like to tell him that such action plans are always kept secret and confidential. Different people are giving different versions in this regard to media. I have talked to all the Ministers of External Affairs and the ambassadors of the gulf countries. Every country, from which any kind of help may be obtained, has been contacted. I do not see these captives as Punjabi or Bihari or Tamil or Telugu or Malayalam, I see them as Indians, more truly, I see them as a mother sees their children. I conveyed the same sentiments to the family members of these captives when they visited me. I would also like to tell the august House that the honourable Prime Minister takes daily updates from me on this issue. I go to him every evening to brief him as to how many people have returned and as to what is the status of the 41 captives. I would like to say here in this House that the entire House should pass a unanimous resolution making an appeal to those who have made them captives, to release them in this holy month of Ramzan. They are innocent and they have done no wrong. Moreover, they belong to a country with which their country has very friendly relations. This kind of an appeal may ensure the release of our boys before Id and by the end of Ramzan. As far as loan waiver and other issues are concerned, I would say that they fall in the State Government's domain. We ensure that they reach their homes and then it is the responsibility of the State Government to provide them jobs, rehabilitation etc.

YSK/Uma