Soon after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday informed the Parliament that 39 Indians abducted by the Islamic State in Iraq's Mosul in 2014 were dead, the Aam Aadmi Party has accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of playing politics over the dead.
"BJP had been playing politics on such a sensitive issue for over three years..They have lost all credibility. They should apologise to the nation and family members of the dead, most of them who hailed from Punjab," Aman Arora, AAP MLA and senior leader, told The Hindu .
Mr. Arora also demanded that the government should announce an immediate compensation of Rs. 50 lakh and a job to one member of the family of the victims.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur has meanwhile advised the Opposition parties to refrain from playing politics over dead people.
Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh tweeted saying "Shattered at the heart-wrenching news from Sushma Swaraj that the 39 Indians missing in Iraq, most of whom were Punjabis, are dead. My heart goes out to the families who had been living in hope since their reported abduction by ISIS in 2014. Prayers with all of them."
Capt. Amarinder told reporters that one of survivors of the abducted group, who returned to the country, had already informed about this. “Its sad news," he said.
Notably, Harjit Masih (24), of Kala Afghana village in Punjab, who was abducted along with 39 other Indian workers, who managed to return to the country, had claimed that all 39 were killed after they were shot by terrorists. He was saved as a bullet just grazed him.
