External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday said that the government will spare no effort to secure the release of Indian Catholic priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil from his captors.
“I have seen the video from Father Tom. He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us… We will spare no effort to secure Father Tom’s release from captivity,” Swaraj tweeted.
Father Uzhunnalil hails from Kerala basically. He was allegedly captured by the ISIS from Yemen earlier this year. In a video clip which was uploaded on social media, the priest can be seen appealing to Pope Francis and the Indian government to rescue him.
The minister also cited how the government had securely brought back Father Alex Prem Kumar and social worker Judith D’Souza. “We got Father Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D’Souza released from Afghanistan. We have spared no effort,” wrote Swaraj on Twitter.
Efforts are being made to secure Uzhunnalil’s release, but such attempts take time, said the Union government.
Father Uzhunnalil claimed in the video clip that his captors have contacted with the Government of India on numerous occasions but so far, the establishment has taken no steps to liberate him.
“I am very sad that nothing has been done seriously in my regard. Reports have been there in the news that everything is being done to release me quickly. But in reality nothing seems to have happened,” the priest said.
