CM calls up Sushma Swaraj for early release of kidnapped Punjabis

Chandigarh, June 18, 2014: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today called up the Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to secure the release of Punjabis, who have been abducted in Iraq.

Seeking prompt intervention of Union government to immediately bring back Punjabis to their motherland, the Chief Minister said that the Union government should make all out efforts for ensuring the safe release of all these Punjabis thereby saving their precious lives. Badal said that it was the high time that the Union government must exploit all the diplomatic channels for bringing back these Punjabis from Iraq.

Expressing solidarity with the family of the kidnapped Punjabis, the Chief Minister said that the state government was solidly with them in this hour of crisis. However, Badal said that though there was hardly anything in the hands of the state government in the matters pertaining to the foreign affairs but then also the Punjab government appeals to the Government of India (GoI) to take a prompt action for saving the life of these Indians.

The Chief Minister also directed the Deputy Commissioners to keep close liaison with the members of the family of abducted Punjabis to update them about latest developments in this regard. Badal also asked the GoI that the state government would bear the entire expenditure for the safe return of these Punjabis.

Meanwhile, Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia has conveyed his solidarity with the distressed families and assured all support to them, several of whom belong to Amritsar, some to his own constituency, Majitha.