Opposition attacks government over sailors hostage crisis
March 9th, 2011 - 6:54 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) The opposition Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the government over its “helplessness” in obtaining the release of Indian sailors held captive by Somali pirates even as External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna assured the Lok Sabha that all possible efforts were on to secure their freedom.
Dissatisfied with Krishna’s response, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj staged a walk out from the house.
The government had to face the opposition ire on a day when the deadline set by Somali pirates for paying $4 million ransom to secure the release of six Indian sailors on board Egyptian cargo vessel M.V. Suez is set to expire.
The pirates had hijacked the vessel in the Gulf of Aden on Aug 2 last year. Besides the six Indians, the ship’s crew includes four Pakistanis, four Sri Lankans and 11 Egyptians.
Krishna said he was in touch with the local governments and ship owners to find a solution to the hostage crisis, adding that piracy was a complicated international issue.
“We can only stress with them (local governments and ship owners) to do all they can for the Indians’ safety and secure their release,” he noted,
Assuring that the sailors’ safe return was of highest priority for the government, the minister said he was personally in touch with the Egyptian ambassador in India.
Reacting to Krishna’s response to her question, Swaraj said it only showed the government’s “helplessness” on the matter and staged a walk out along with her party members.
According to Krishna, a total of 79 Indian crew members on board seven ships are being held hostage by Somali pirates at present.
- Efforts on to release Indian hostages held by Somali pirates: Krishna - Mar 09, 2011
- Government talking to ship owners for release of Indian sailors: Krishna - Mar 04, 2011
- Freed merchant vessel crew safely proceeding to Oman: Government - Jun 15, 2011
- India attempting safe release of Indian hostages from Somali pirates - Mar 02, 2011
- Egypt requested to intervene to rescue Indian hostages - Mar 07, 2011
- 53 Indian sailors in pirate-custody, back-channel talks on (Lead) - Mar 10, 2011
- Freed Indian sailors reach Delhi, thank Pakistan (Second Lead) - Jun 24, 2011
- India happy over its sailors' release by pirates - Jun 14, 2011
- Fresh pirate attack on freed vessel, India rushes warship (Second Lead) - Jun 15, 2011
- Back channel efforts on for Indian sailors' release (Second Lead) - Mar 10, 2011
- Indian-Pakistani efforts to free another pirate-held ship - Apr 17, 2011
- Indian government did not contact us: Sailor's family - Jun 24, 2011
- Freed Indian sailors reach Delhi, thank Pakistan (Lead) - Jun 24, 2011
- Indian Navy abandons escort of freed vessel (Lead) - Jun 16, 2011
- Indian sailors' return: Krishna thanks Pakistan - Jun 24, 2011
Tags: 11 egyptians, being held hostage, bharatiya janata party, cargo vessel, egyptian ambassador, external affairs minister, gulf of aden, helplessness, hostage crisis, indian crew, krishna, leader of opposition, local governments, Lok Sabha, pakistanis, party members, safe return, ship owners, somali pirates, sri lankans