MEA, Sushma Swaraj on Indian priest Rev Tom’s video plea

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Dec 28, 2016: India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on December 27 reiterated that her department would not spare any effort to get the release of an Indian Catholic priest abducted in Yemen earlier this years.  The promise came a day after a video appeared in social media depicting a bearded man claiming to be Father Tom Uzhunnalil appealing Pope Francis and the Indian government to secure his release from his captors soon.

In a series of tweets, Swaraj said she has seen the video and that her department would spare no effort in securing the priest. The Indian government has said efforts are being made to secure Uzhunnalil’s release, but such attempts take time.   Earlier, Swaraj had informed Parliament that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken to various countries through which contacts can be established in Yemen.

Swaraj had said it takes much time to secure release of people who are held captive and asked the MPs to keep “faith” in government’s efforts to trace the abducted priest.