Amidst growing uncertainties over the fate of an Indian priest kidnapped in Yemen, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) told The Hindu on Thursday that they have been waiting for five days for a personal meeting with the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
However, the CBCI informed that a senior official from the PMO has assured them that the government is tracking the condition of the priest, Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who went missing on March 4 following a brutal attack by the IS on a care home run by the Missionaries of Charity.
“We are confident that the Minister will grant us an opportunity to discuss the status of Father Tom Uzhunnalil,” Joseph Chinnayyan of CBCI, told The Hindu emphasising that they were hopeful that Father Uzhunnalil was alive despite rumours about his death circulating in the Web since Good Friday.
Ms. Swaraj, who is known to act promptly in case of assisting Indians stuck in difficult conditions abroad, has faced criticism from Congress leader Manish Tewari for what he cited as a delayed government response in the case of Father Uzhunnalil. On Wednesday, a Twitter row broke out between the two when Mr. Tewari pointed out that the MEA has not done all it could do to help Father Uzhunnalil.
In response, Ms. Swaraj tweeted, “Friends - I have liked some tweets. Please judge them yourself and reply to @manishtewari.”
The Minister’s response was regarded by Mr. Tewari as an invite to the government’s online supporters to defend her.
