Wednesday, December 12, 2012
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday assured a delegation of Kerala MPs that the government will do everything it can to try and ensure the freedom of 42 Indian nationals currently held hostage by Somali pirates.
Singh spoke to cabinet secretary Ajit Seth in the presence of the MPs who included party spokesperson P C Chacko and asked the top official to explore all avenues to release the hostages. The MPs later met the cabinet secretary as well.
"The situation of the Indian nationals, of who 17 are from Kerala, is pitiable. They are held hostage while some of their employers are not mindful for their fate," Chacko said. He said Kerala MPs had made repeated representations as the hostages have remained in captivity for months.