New Delhi, Mar 20: Opposition leaders on Tuesday took the Modi government to task for misleading the families of 39 Indians who went missing in Iraq more than three years back by giving them false hopes of they being alive.
The angry Opposition attack came soon after External Affairs Sushma Swaraj told the Rajya Sabha that the 39 Indian nationals, mostly from Punjab, were dead and that their bodies have been exhumed from a mass grave in Badoosh in Iraq.
Swaraj wanted to make a similar statement in the Lok Sabha but could not do so due to noisy protests by the Opposition parties.
"It is sad that so many people lost their lives. But why did government mislead families and Parliament over the last few years? Why give false hopes of them being alive," senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor told reporters here.
"I'm shocked to hear that 39 Indians who were in captivity since 2014, in Iraq, are now confirmed dead. My deepest condolences to the families of those who have lived in hope, that their loved ones will return unharmed," Congress President, Rahul Gandhi said.
CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury also wanted the Modi government to clarify why it kept giving the families of the abductees false hope of being alive for the past three years.
"Our condolences to the family members of the deceased. The question about why the BJP government kept giving them false hopes of being alive for past 3 years must be answered," Yechury said.
The leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad wanted the government to provide the aggrieved families financial assistance and employment.
Later addressing a press conference, Swaraj slammed the Congress for protesting in Lok Sabha while she was speaking on the death of 39 Indians in Iraq.
"In Rajya Sabha, everyone listened to me speaking very patiently and in peace. Everyone paid tribute, I thought same would happen in Lok Sabha. But unlike the past few days of ruckus, today Congress led the protests under Jyotiraditya Scindia ji," Swaraj said.
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Govt. might have promised the victims families due to lack of evidences. Protest is common by the opposition. Our great minister really did a good job for the past few years. I believe she deserves the position. Regardless any Govt. in power she is the right candidate for this position. Good luck Madam. Deep condolences for family members of the deceased.
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