New Delhi: India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on December 27 reiterated that her department would not spare any effort to get the release of an Indian Catholic priest abducted in Yemen earlier this years.
The promise came a day after a video appeared in social media depicting a bearded man claiming to be Father Tom Uzhunnalil appealing Pope Francis and the Indian government to secure his release from his captors soon.
In a series of tweets, Swaraj said she has seen the video and that her department would spare no effort in securing the priest, First Post reported.
In the video appeal, Father Uzhunnalil explained that he would require immediate hospitalization as his heath has deteriorated.
“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 the man claiming to be Father Tom Uzhunnalil in a weak voice in the video, aired by news channels in India.
“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 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 not be verified independently. It is also not clear when the video was taken.
Father Uzhunnalil, who hails from Kerala, was abducted on March 4 by unidentified men who attacked an old-age home run by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in southern Yemeni city of Aden.
The priest claimed in the video that his captors had 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 hospitalization soon. Please come to my help quickly,” he said.
The Indian 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 had 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.