Taking a proactive approach for faster release of Indian nationals locked up in jails of several countries despite having served their terms, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has asked all Indian Missions to give her details.
She has sought details particularly from countries in Gulf, and South Asia where a significant number of Indians are in jail. The Minister wants to monitored and expedite the release of all those who are held up in jails despite having served terms or are in need of intervention.
last week, about 40 Indian workers, who had been languishing in jails in Saudi Arabia for more than a year even though their two months’ sentence of imprisonment had been completed, were released on personal intervention of Swaraj.
Indian nationals, largely from Bihar and Rajasthan, who were working in Nesma and Partners Company at a project in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, had been in detention since 12 June 2013 after a verdict of the higher court which sentenced them to two months imprisonment. Yet they were unable to return as the company owner had invoked his private right of compensation for the loss of property caused by the workers.
Swaraj, who has been paying special attention to the plight of Indian nationals in prisons, when informed of the matter early this month , immediately took the matter up with the Indian Ambassador and sought quick action. “What followed were a series of quick responses from the Saudi authorities to the Minister’s request. The company which had been reluctant to revoke its right for compensation not only agreed to waive it but paid for the return passage of all the 40 workers, who have now returned India,” said a statement from Ministry of External Affairs.
The Indian officials are similarly negotiating with companies in Iraq where are a large number of workers are stuck due to contractual provisions and their passports and salaries are help up. The officials have managed to bring back a significant number of Indians from the violence stuck Iraq over the last one month.