Tags:
Journalism of Courage
As the Crisis Management Group took urgent steps like imposing a ban on travel by Indians to Iraq through Kuwait and Jordan and also deciding to send a senior official to Iraq, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, too, decided to summon senior members of the Cabinet for an update on the hostage crisis at 10 Janpath late tonight.
Sources said Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad were among those who were summoned by her. They said Sonia was also constantly in touch with External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh, who is in Bangkok for the BIMST-EC meet.
While the CMG was still awaiting a confirmation on news agency reports that the Iraqi group that calls itself the ‘Holders of the Black Banner’ has extended the 9-30 p.m. (IST) deadline indefinitely, it decided to depute an official familiar with the ‘‘region and language’’ to the Indian mission in Iraq. The MEA has begun the process of ‘‘shortlisting’’ officers for this assignment.
The CMG also decided that the Protectorate of Emigrants while giving clearance for travel to Kuwait and Jordan, will put a stamp on passports, clearly stating that it is not valid for travel to Iraq. ‘‘The Government will also be approaching the Governments of Kuwait and Jordan to assist in imposing this ban. This measure is being taken temporarily in view of the prevailing security situation in Iraq and is motivated by our concern for the safety and security of our nationals,’’ said Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed, who also heads the CMG.
‘‘The Government of India is hopeful that the deadline given by the hostage-takers is extended and the hostages are released at the earliest,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Congress president’s concerns stem from growing public resentment in Una, Ropar and Hoshiarpur, the towns from where the three Indians hail.
Sonia’s worries increased with reports of angry protestors taking to the streets, blocking traffic, including buses carrying foreign tourists, in some of these places. The Congress is in power both in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.
|
Echo back home
|
|||||
|
• Two busloads of foreigners returning from Mcleodganj were stranded near Una. Police escorted them out. But another bus with Israeli tourists was stuck at Nangal. Story continues below this ad |
|||||
Efforts to secure release the three hostages gathered hectic pace after the threat held out by the group on Thursday that it would kill one of the Indian hostages today by 9-30 p.m. (IST). This morning, the CMG was informed that KGL, the company that has employed the three Indians, has established contact with Iraqi leader Sheikh Hisham al Dulaimi would be holding talks with him soon.
Dulaimi, who has agreed to assist the Indian government on humanitarian grounds, also appeared on Al-Arabiya television this morning with an appeal to the abductor for extending the deadline to execute one of the hostages. According to the MEA, Dulaimi has requested the group not to carry out the execution and to give negotiations an opportunity by extending the deadline.
From Baghdad, Dulaimi was quoted by AFP as saying: ‘‘In my name and in the name of humanity and religious leaders, I appeal to the Secret Army, Black Banners battalion, to rethink the matter and not to execute the hostages, because, god willing, there is a chance to reach a positive outcome that would secure the release of all of them.’’
Last night, India had renewed its appeal for the release of the three hostages, Antaryami, Tilakraj and Sukhdev Singh, and in line with the demand made by the group it had called the US-led forces and ‘‘occupation forces’’ and emphasised that the three poor Indians had nothing do with these troops.
New Delhi clarified that these men would never return to Iraq once they are released.
Related Story
