 "Father Thomas Uzhunnalil abduction: Sushma Swaraj responds to plea of Indian priest")
On Tuesday, Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs responded to an appeal made by an Indian Catholic priest abducted from Yemen this year who through a video asked Pope Francis and the Union government to secure his release from his captors. In a series of tweets on Tuesday morning, Swaraj said she has seen the video sent by Father Tom Uzhunnalil and that her department will spare no effort in securing his release.
I have seen the video from Fr Tom. He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us. /1
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016
We got Fr Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D'Souza released from Afghanistan. /2
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016
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
In the video appeal, Father Uzhunnalil explained his deteriorating condition and sought help. “If I were a European priest, I would have been taken more seriously. I am from India. I am perhaps not considered as of much value,” said priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil in a weak voice in the video, aired by news channels in Kerala. “Dear Pope Francis, dear Holy Father, as a father please take care of my life. I am very much depressed. My health is deteriorating,” he said in the video, a day after Christmas. Father Uzhunnalil, who looked very weak, appeared to be reading out from a text placed before him. The veracity of the video, which was uploaded from YouTube and Facebook, could neither be independently verified nor was the period when it was shot known. Father Uzhunnalil, who hails from Kerala, was abducted in March by terror group Islamic State which attacked an old-age home run by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in southern Yemeni city of Aden. He claimed his captors have made many contacts with the Government of India — president and prime minister. “I am very sad that nothing has been done seriously in my regard,” he said. He said reports had said everything has been done to get his release, “but in reality nothing” has been done. Father Uzhunnalil said a news reporter abducted in the Middle East was released as she was from France. “I am from India and not considered. Dear people, I pray you all, ask you all, beg you all to do your might to help me to save my life. I need hospitalisation soon. Please come to my help quickly,” he said. The Union 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 himself has spoken to various countries through which contacts can be established in Yemen. Swaraj had said it takes more 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. With inputs from PTI
 "Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment")
 "From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal")
 "Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?")
 "Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike")
 "Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment")
 "From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal")
 "Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?")
 "Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike")
