New Delhi:
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday asserted that India will spare no effort to secure release of Father Tom Uzhunnalil, a Keralite priest abducted nearly nine months ago by a terror group in war-torn Yemen.
Swaraj’s remarks came a day after a purported video by the priest appealing to the government to free him surfaced up.
“We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Fr Tom's release from captivity,” Swaraj tweeted.
An indomitable Swaraj quoted examples of India ensuring release of kidnapped citizens like Judith D'Souza and Fr Alexis Prem Kumar from Afghanistan.
“I have seen the video from Fr Tom. He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us. We got Fr Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D'Souza released from Afghanistan,” Swaraj noted.
Tom, in the video, could be seen pleading for help from Indian government and fellow Christians including Pope Francis. However, the authenticity of video couldn’t be ascertained.
In the clip, Uzhunnalil was seen saying, “If I were a European priest, I would have been taken more seriously. I am from India. I am perhaps not considered of much value.”
With Inputs from PTI
We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Fr Tom's release from captivity. /3
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016
