Sushma Swaraj has once again done what she is extremely famous for. In a recent rescue attempt, 32 laborers, who had been taken hostage by a company in the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, have now been rescued after a stern intervention by the Ministry of External Affairs.
This has been confirmed by Minister of Civil Aviation and MP from Hazaribagh, Shri Jayant Sinha, who tweeted the following:-
Thanks to Hon. EAM @sushmaswaraj ji's prompt intervention, 32 labourers have returned safely to their homes in Jharkhand.
Today every Indian lives with an assurance that their country stands with them.@MEAIndia @IndianEmbRiyadhhttps://t.co/ArHmToVbXw
— Jayant Sinha (Modi Ka Parivar) (@jayantsinha) October 12, 2018
According to Shri Sinha, the laborers hailed from Giridih, Bokaro, Hazaribagh districts of Jharkhand. As per the letter written by Shri Sinha to Sushma Swaraj, his office received a call from the laborers, requesting his help in returning home.
According to the conversations, the laborers were sent to Saudi Arabia on the pretext of giving them jobs in a reputed construction firm by a shady employment agency. However, when they reached Riyadh in July 2016, they were in for a rude shock. They were forced to work for another company. The laborers were held hostage and reportedly denied from their wages since October 2017. The letter also stated that their passports were confiscated.
Following the intervention by the External Affairs Ministry, the laborers were liberated and they joyously returned home. To quote one survivor, Khirodhar Mahto, ‘…..We contacted Jayant Sinha’s office and had sought his help………We are very happy that we returned to our home after the Indian Embassy in Riyadh arranged for our return following a directive from the External Affairs Ministry”
Shri Jayant Sinha also expressed his joy on the safe return of the laborers. To quote him, “…..It is a very joyous moment for us as we have been able to bring our people back to India safely. Today every Indian abroad lives with an assurance that their country stands with them….’
Shri Sinha is not far from the truth, as this is not the first time Sushma Swaraj has extended her hand in helping the Indians stranded abroad or taken hostage. From saving the 46 nurses abducted by the dreaded ISIS in Tikrit, to rescuing NGO worker Judith D’ Souza from the hands of Taliban, to even bringing back those stranded in conflict ridden areas like Yemen, Mrs. Sushma Swaraj has been the savior for thousands of Indians who’re either residing or working abroad.
From facing the ignominy of losing a prisoner Sarabjit Singh to extreme apathy from the External Ministry, to pulling out all stops to rescue the hostages from even the most dreaded terror organizations, the External Affairs Ministry has come a long way under Sushma Swaraj. She has ensured that the Indians feel safe worldwide and realize that as long as they’re Indians, they won’t have to face hardship worldwide.