Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj today said that the king of Saudi Arabia has assured of help to thousands of laid-off Indian workers stranded in his country. 
 
Swaraj, who was addressing the Lower House of Parliament, said that the king has also given orders to resolve the issue within two days. 
 
&quot;I am happy to tell you that Saudi authorities have taken note of the issues that I had discussed and Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz has given orders that this issue must be resolved within two days. When V.K. Singh reached there he met their labour and social development minister, Haqbani (Mufrej Al Haqbani),&quot; said Swaraj. 
 
Regarding the dues of workers, the minister said, their claims will be settled even after their return. 
 
&quot;They have accepted that every worker will file their individual claim in the labour office before coming back. The labour office will work with Indian embassy in Riyadh and will settle all the claims. They will get their money even after coming back to India,&quot; said Swaraj. 
 
She added that the Saudi administration was also making arrangements to provide food and other assistance to the workers. 
 
The Consulate General of India in Jeddah said on its official Twitter feed on Saturday that it had distributed 15,475 kg of food over the past three days in association with the Indian community. 
 
Low oil prices have forced the Saudi government to slash spending since last year, putting pressure on the finances of local construction firms which rely on state contracts. 
 
As a result, some companies have been struggling to pay foreign workers and have laid off tens of thousands, leaving many with no money for food, let alone tickets for home. 
 
The hardships faced by Indian migrants come amid rising protests against working conditions in Saudi Arabia. 
 
(Reuters)

Swaraj said Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz has given orders to resolve the issue of stranded workers within two days

Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj today said that the king of Saudi Arabia has assured of help to thousands of laid-off Indian workers stranded in his country. Swaraj, who was addressing the Lower House of Parliament, said that the king has also given orders to resolve the issue within two days. "I am happy to tell you that Saudi authorities have taken note of the issues that I had discussed and Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz has given orders that this issue must be resolved within two days. When V.K. Singh reached there he met their labour and social development minister, Haqbani (Mufrej Al Haqbani)," said Swaraj. Regarding the dues of workers, the minister said, their claims will be settled even after their return. "They have accepted that every worker will file their individual claim in the labour office before coming back. The labour office will work with Indian embassy in Riyadh and will settle all the claims. They will get their money even after coming back to India," said Swaraj. She added that the Saudi administration was also making arrangements to provide food and other assistance to the workers. The Consulate General of India in Jeddah said on its official Twitter feed on Saturday that it had distributed 15,475 kg of food over the past three days in association with the Indian community. Low oil prices have forced the Saudi government to slash spending since last year, putting pressure on the finances of local construction firms which rely on state contracts. As a result, some companies have been struggling to pay foreign workers and have laid off tens of thousands, leaving many with no money for food, let alone tickets for home. The hardships faced by Indian migrants come amid rising protests against working conditions in Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)

Saudi King assured help to stranded workers: Indian foreign minister Swaraj

In a diplomatic victory for India, Saudi Arabia has agreed to give exit visas to hundreds of jobless Indian workers there and will send them back home at its own expense. 
 
Making a suo motu statement in Indian parliament&#39;s upper house, foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said Saudi Arabia has also agreed to provide free medical facility and food to the Indian workers stranded in camps and also allow those eligible to seek re-employment with other companies. 
 
Swaraj said her deputy and minister of state for foreign affairs V K Singh was camping in Saudi Arabia since Tuesday evening and will return after formalising the arrangements for the Indian workers. 
 
&quot;I am happy to inform that the Saudi ruler has taken note of the plight of Indian workers. Saudi King has instructed the officials to resolve the issue in two days,&quot; she said. 
 
Saudi Arabia, Swaraj said, has agreed to the Indian government&#39;s request to grant exit visas to the stranded worker. It has also offered to transport the workers to India. &quot;Government of India will not have to spend a penny on that,&quot; she said. 
 
The nation has also permitted workers to take re-employment if other companies find them suitable, she said, adding that before departing, the Indian workers will register their claims of unpaid salaries and other dues with the labour office of Saudi Arabia. 
 
Indian embassy in Riyadh will follow up with the Saudi Arabia&#39;s labour office to get all the dues of workers cleared, she said. 
 
Swaraj said the Saudi ruler has also issued orders to provide free medical and food to Indian workers lodged in the camps apart from all civic amenities. 
 
Thanking the Saudi ruler, she said this was possible because of the personal and diplomatic relationship maintained by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Islamic nation. 
 
Leader of the opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad complimented the Indian and the Saudi governments for reaching a solution on the issue.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)

Saudi has also agreed to provide free medical aid & food to the stranded Indian workers, the Indian foreign minister said

In a diplomatic victory for India, Saudi Arabia has agreed to give exit visas to hundreds of jobless Indian workers there and will send them back home at its own expense. Making a suo motu statement in Indian parliament's upper house, foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said Saudi Arabia has also agreed to provide free medical facility and food to the Indian workers stranded in camps and also allow those eligible to seek re-employment with other companies. Swaraj said her deputy and minister of state for foreign affairs V K Singh was camping in Saudi Arabia since Tuesday evening and will return after formalising the arrangements for the Indian workers. "I am happy to inform that the Saudi ruler has taken note of the plight of Indian workers. Saudi King has instructed the officials to resolve the issue in two days," she said. Saudi Arabia, Swaraj said, has agreed to the Indian government's request to grant exit visas to the stranded worker. It has also offered to transport the workers to India. "Government of India will not have to spend a penny on that," she said. The nation has also permitted workers to take re-employment if other companies find them suitable, she said, adding that before departing, the Indian workers will register their claims of unpaid salaries and other dues with the labour office of Saudi Arabia. Indian embassy in Riyadh will follow up with the Saudi Arabia's labour office to get all the dues of workers cleared, she said. Swaraj said the Saudi ruler has also issued orders to provide free medical and food to Indian workers lodged in the camps apart from all civic amenities. Thanking the Saudi ruler, she said this was possible because of the personal and diplomatic relationship maintained by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Islamic nation. Leader of the opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad complimented the Indian and the Saudi governments for reaching a solution on the issue. (PTI)

Saudi to send stranded Indian workers back at its expense

India said today it is negotiating with authorities in Saudi Arabia to repatriate thousands of migrant workers after they lost their jobs, leaving them destitute and with no money to return home. 
 
Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj told parliament she was sending a junior minister to Riyadh after reports that around 10,000 workers had lost their jobs and been left to starve. 
 
Indians are among millions of poor Asians working in the Gulf states, where human rights groups say many suffer exploitation and abuses including non-payment of wages, with no channels for redress. 
 
Many of the companies employing them have suffered from the drop in oil revenues from falling prices, prompting a downturn in construction and layoffs. 
 
The Indian consulate in Jeddah has been providing free food for its nationals since their plight came to light last week, but Swaraj said the situation could not be allowed to continue. 
 
&quot;This can&#39;t be a permanent solution, we will have to bring them back,&quot; Swaraj told the lower house of the parliament Monday. 
 
However that is being hampered by a Saudi requirement that workers provide a no-objection certificate from their employers before they can leave the country, she said. 
 
Junior minister VK Singh will travel to Riyadh on Tuesday to try to sort the situation out, she said. 
 
Among those stranded are some 2,450 workers laid off by Saudi Oger, the once-mighty construction giant led by Lebanon&#39;s billionaire former prime minister Saad Hariri. 
 
&quot;No jobless Indian will sleep hungry. If they want to come back home, the government will ensure their safe return...we have a collective responsibility towards our citizens,&quot; Swaraj said. 
 
Nearly three million Indians live and work in Saudi Arabia, according to the foreign ministry, one of the largest populations outside of India. In November 2014, Gulf and Asian labour ministers agreed on a series of initiatives aimed at boosting protection and improving conditions of employment for foreign workers in the Gulf. 
 
(AFP)

Indians are among millions of poor Asians working in the Gulf states, where human rights groups say many suffer exploitation and abuses

India said today it is negotiating with authorities in Saudi Arabia to repatriate thousands of migrant workers after they lost their jobs, leaving them destitute and with no money to return home. Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj told parliament she was sending a junior minister to Riyadh after reports that around 10,000 workers had lost their jobs and been left to starve. Indians are among millions of poor Asians working in the Gulf states, where human rights groups say many suffer exploitation and abuses including non-payment of wages, with no channels for redress. Many of the companies employing them have suffered from the drop in oil revenues from falling prices, prompting a downturn in construction and layoffs. The Indian consulate in Jeddah has been providing free food for its nationals since their plight came to light last week, but Swaraj said the situation could not be allowed to continue. "This can't be a permanent solution, we will have to bring them back," Swaraj told the lower house of the parliament Monday. However that is being hampered by a Saudi requirement that workers provide a no-objection certificate from their employers before they can leave the country, she said. Junior minister VK Singh will travel to Riyadh on Tuesday to try to sort the situation out, she said. Among those stranded are some 2,450 workers laid off by Saudi Oger, the once-mighty construction giant led by Lebanon's billionaire former prime minister Saad Hariri. "No jobless Indian will sleep hungry. If they want to come back home, the government will ensure their safe return...we have a collective responsibility towards our citizens," Swaraj said. Nearly three million Indians live and work in Saudi Arabia, according to the foreign ministry, one of the largest populations outside of India. In November 2014, Gulf and Asian labour ministers agreed on a series of initiatives aimed at boosting protection and improving conditions of employment for foreign workers in the Gulf. (AFP)

India plans to bring back thousands of migrant workers stranded in Saudi

Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj rushed to the rescue of 10,000 unemployed Indians who were stranded in Saudi Arabia without food at a camp. She ensured that the&nbsp;Indian Embassy in Jeddah supplied them immediately with food on Saturday.
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
The number of Indian workers facing food crisis in Saudi Arabia is over Ten Thousand. It is not 800 as is being reported. <a href="https://twitter.com/JagranNews">@JagranNews</a>
&mdash; Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/759424598114873344">July 30, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div>
 
Swaraj reacted to a tweet by an Indian national who brought the plight of his fellow citizens to the notice of the Indian government.&nbsp; 
She assured that no Indian worker rendered jobless in Saudi Arabia will go without food. She also said that she was personally monitoring the situation on an hourly basis. 
 
&quot;Large number of Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The employers have not paid wages closed down their factories&quot;, Swaraj tweeted 
 
&quot;While situation in Kuwait is manageable, matters are much worse in Saudi Arabia&quot;, she said. 
 
A man named Imran Khokhar had tweeted that 800 Indians were starving for past three days in Jeddah.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj">@SushmaSwaraj</a> after your quick reaction some camps got foods today <a href="https://t.co/BXpwLDCrEx">pic.twitter.com/BXpwLDCrEx</a>
&mdash; Imran Khokhar (@Imran_khokhar84) <a href="https://twitter.com/Imran_khokhar84/status/759382994876502016">July 30, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script> 
 
Thousands of Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The factory workers have not been paid wages by their employers and factories were also shut down.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
There is nothing mightier than the collective will of Indian nation.
&mdash; Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/759427375809503232">July 30, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>Swaraj also appealed to the three million Indians living in Saudi Arabia to help their &quot;fellow brothers and sisters&quot;. 
 
(WION)

Swaraj's response came after an Indian, Imran Khokhar, had tweeted that 800 unemployed nationals were starving in Saudi Arabia

Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj rushed to the rescue of 10,000 unemployed Indians who were stranded in Saudi Arabia without food at a camp. She ensured that the Indian Embassy in Jeddah supplied them immediately with food on Saturday. The number of Indian workers facing food crisis in Saudi Arabia is over Ten Thousand. It is not 800 as is being reported. @JagranNews — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 30, 2016 Swaraj reacted to a tweet by an Indian national who brought the plight of his fellow citizens to the notice of the Indian government. She assured that no Indian worker rendered jobless in Saudi Arabia will go without food. She also said that she was personally monitoring the situation on an hourly basis. "Large number of Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The employers have not paid wages closed down their factories", Swaraj tweeted "While situation in Kuwait is manageable, matters are much worse in Saudi Arabia", she said. A man named Imran Khokhar had tweeted that 800 Indians were starving for past three days in Jeddah. @SushmaSwaraj after your quick reaction some camps got foods today pic.twitter.com/BXpwLDCrEx — Imran Khokhar (@Imran_khokhar84) July 30, 2016 Thousands of Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The factory workers have not been paid wages by their employers and factories were also shut down. There is nothing mightier than the collective will of Indian nation. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 30, 2016 Swaraj also appealed to the three million Indians living in Saudi Arabia to help their "fellow brothers and sisters". (WION)

Indian foreign minister reaches out to help 10,000 stranded in Jeddah

Indonesia&#39;s Attorney General said the execution of at least 10 convicts on Friday (July 29) will be suspended pending further reviews. 
 
Four drug traffickers, three Nigerians and one Indonesian, were executed by firing squad during a thunderstorm shortly after midnight earlier today at the prison Island of Nusakambangan. 
 
Initially Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo said 14 convicted drug traffickers, including citizens of India, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe, would be executed. 
 
&quot;After we&#39;ve done the assessment we decided that four people needed to be executed in the early hours today, while the ten other people will be decided later. This suspension was decided through comprehensive assessment and careful thought to avoid any possible mistakes from the judicial aspect and non-judicial aspect.&quot; said Prasetyo during a news conference in Jakarta. 
 
Gurdip Singh of India was among the 10 convicts that were facing execution in a&nbsp;drug peddling case. Singh was found guilty by an Indonesian court and handed death penalty in 2005. 
 
The date for the next round of executions has not been set, Prasetyo said. 
 
The government ignored international calls for clemency and pushed ahead with its plans. 
 
&quot;I have not heard of any diplomatic pressures but only appeals, and I don&#39;t feel like I was pressured. We must enforce and respect the rule of law in our country, surely it&#39;s our dignity,&quot; said Prasetyo. 
 
At least two prisoners among that group of 10, a Pakistani national and an Indonesian woman, have applied for presidential clemency, their representatives said. They said legal proceedings could take a long time. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

Indonesia's Attorney General says the execution of 10 drug convicts is suspended due to judicial and non-judicial review

Indonesia's Attorney General said the execution of at least 10 convicts on Friday (July 29) will be suspended pending further reviews. Four drug traffickers, three Nigerians and one Indonesian, were executed by firing squad during a thunderstorm shortly after midnight earlier today at the prison Island of Nusakambangan. Initially Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo said 14 convicted drug traffickers, including citizens of India, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe, would be executed. "After we've done the assessment we decided that four people needed to be executed in the early hours today, while the ten other people will be decided later. This suspension was decided through comprehensive assessment and careful thought to avoid any possible mistakes from the judicial aspect and non-judicial aspect." said Prasetyo during a news conference in Jakarta. Gurdip Singh of India was among the 10 convicts that were facing execution in a drug peddling case. Singh was found guilty by an Indonesian court and handed death penalty in 2005. The date for the next round of executions has not been set, Prasetyo said. The government ignored international calls for clemency and pushed ahead with its plans. "I have not heard of any diplomatic pressures but only appeals, and I don't feel like I was pressured. We must enforce and respect the rule of law in our country, surely it's our dignity," said Prasetyo. At least two prisoners among that group of 10, a Pakistani national and an Indonesian woman, have applied for presidential clemency, their representatives said. They said legal proceedings could take a long time. (Reuters)

Relief for Indian national as Indonesia suspends execution of 10 convicts

India on Thursday said it is making all efforts to save one of its nationals facing death sentence in Indonesia. 
 
Fourteen drug convicts, including nationals of Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Pakistan, are set to be executed in Indonesia today. 
 
Gurdip Singh of India was arrested 14 years ago in a drug peddling case. Singh was found guilty by an Indonesian court and handed death penalty in 2005. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Indian Ambassador in Indonesia has informed me that Gurdip Singh whose execution was fixed for last night, has not been executed.
&mdash; Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/758875253451829249">July 29, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script> 
Spokesperson of India&#39;s foreign ministry, Vikas Swarup, said the government was trying to reach out to Indonesian authorities in the matter. 
 
&quot;Even as we speak, our embassy officials, consular officials are camping in Cilacap and have met Shri Gurdip Singh. We have reached out to the foreign office. We are trying to reach out to the senior leadership of Indonesia. We are also in constant touch with his wife and brother in India and keeping them informed of the current situation,&quot; said Swarup in New Delhi. 
 
Swarup added Singh&#39;s legal representative has advised him to file for presidential clemency under the relevant law. 
 
&quot;Gurdip Singh is facing death sentence in a drug case in Indonesia. We are making last minute efforts to save him from execution on July 28,&quot; tweeted India&#39;s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday (July 27). 
 
Singh&#39;s family in northern Jalandhar city of Punjab also sought his release. 
 
&quot;He has spent so many years in jail. I now appeal to send him back. He has not even seen (some of his) his children till date,&quot; said Singh&#39;s wife, Kulwinder Kaur. 
 
News of the impending executions prompted condemnation from the United Nations and the European Union. 
 
Indonesia, which is among Southeast Asia&#39;s biggest markets for narcotics, has declared a &quot;drug emergency&quot; and vowed no mercy for drug traffickers. 
 
It provoked international outrage in April last year with the execution of eight drug traffickers, seven among them foreigners, following the 2013 end of a five-year temporary halt in the practice. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

India said it is making all efforts to reach out to Indonesia to save its national, Gurdip Singh, facing death sentence for drug trafficking

India on Thursday said it is making all efforts to save one of its nationals facing death sentence in Indonesia. Fourteen drug convicts, including nationals of Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Pakistan, are set to be executed in Indonesia today. Gurdip Singh of India was arrested 14 years ago in a drug peddling case. Singh was found guilty by an Indonesian court and handed death penalty in 2005. Indian Ambassador in Indonesia has informed me that Gurdip Singh whose execution was fixed for last night, has not been executed. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 29, 2016 Spokesperson of India's foreign ministry, Vikas Swarup, said the government was trying to reach out to Indonesian authorities in the matter. "Even as we speak, our embassy officials, consular officials are camping in Cilacap and have met Shri Gurdip Singh. We have reached out to the foreign office. We are trying to reach out to the senior leadership of Indonesia. We are also in constant touch with his wife and brother in India and keeping them informed of the current situation," said Swarup in New Delhi. Swarup added Singh's legal representative has advised him to file for presidential clemency under the relevant law. "Gurdip Singh is facing death sentence in a drug case in Indonesia. We are making last minute efforts to save him from execution on July 28," tweeted India's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday (July 27). Singh's family in northern Jalandhar city of Punjab also sought his release. "He has spent so many years in jail. I now appeal to send him back. He has not even seen (some of his) his children till date," said Singh's wife, Kulwinder Kaur. News of the impending executions prompted condemnation from the United Nations and the European Union. Indonesia, which is among Southeast Asia's biggest markets for narcotics, has declared a "drug emergency" and vowed no mercy for drug traffickers. It provoked international outrage in April last year with the execution of eight drug traffickers, seven among them foreigners, following the 2013 end of a five-year temporary halt in the practice. (Reuters)

Indonesia executions: India intervenes, Gurdip Singh hanging suspended until further review

Indian woman Judith D&#39;Souza, abducted in Afghanistan&#39;s Kabul, was rescued today morning, said Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in a tweet.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
I am happy to inform you that Judith D&#39;souza has been rescued. <a href="https://twitter.com/jeromedsouza">@jeromedsouza</a>
&mdash; Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/756657643419160577">July 23, 2016</a></blockquote>
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D&#39;Souza was kidnapped from the Tamani area of Kabul&nbsp;on June 9 while she was returning home. On June 10, in the wee hours of the morning, family members of D&#39;Souza, residing in India&#39;s eastern state of West Bengal had received a call from the Indian embassy in Afghanistan informing them of her abduction. 
 
Since then, her family had written to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on several occasions.&nbsp; 
 
A day back, D&#39;Souza&#39;s brother Jerome had met Swaraj in person and she had assured him that his sister will be brought back home safe.&nbsp; 
 
D&#39;Souza had been working with a non-profit organisation (NGO), Aga Khan Foundation, for a year in Afghanistan.&nbsp; 
 
(DNA)

Judith D'Souza, who worked with the Aga Khan Foundation, was kidnapped from the Tamani area of Kabul on June 9

Indian woman Judith D'Souza, abducted in Afghanistan's Kabul, was rescued today morning, said Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in a tweet. I am happy to inform you that Judith D'souza has been rescued. @jeromedsouza — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 23, 2016 D'Souza was kidnapped from the Tamani area of Kabul on June 9 while she was returning home. On June 10, in the wee hours of the morning, family members of D'Souza, residing in India's eastern state of West Bengal had received a call from the Indian embassy in Afghanistan informing them of her abduction. Since then, her family had written to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on several occasions. A day back, D'Souza's brother Jerome had met Swaraj in person and she had assured him that his sister will be brought back home safe. D'Souza had been working with a non-profit organisation (NGO), Aga Khan Foundation, for a year in Afghanistan. (DNA)

Indian aid worker who was abducted in Kabul rescued

Two Indian nationals, who were kidnapped by suspected terrorists from an area called Boko near Makurdi in Benue State of Nigeria on June 29, were released today morning, said government sources. 
 
Mangapudi Srinivas, who hails from Visakhapatnam, and his colleague Kaushal Anish Sharma were released at 10.30 in the morning and had spoken to their families. 
 
Anish Sharma&#39;s wife thanked Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj for ensuring their safe release. She also thanked the ministry and the mission for keeping the family informed of developments almost on daily basis. 
 
Sharma and Srinivas were reportedly travelling to Dangote Cement Plant in a car from their residential quarters at around 7.20 pm on June 29 when a group of armed men kidnapped them at a traffic signal. 
 
(ANI)

Anish Sharma, Mangapudi Srinivas were travelling to Dangote Cement Plant in a car when a group of armed men kidnapped them

Two Indian nationals, who were kidnapped by suspected terrorists from an area called Boko near Makurdi in Benue State of Nigeria on June 29, were released today morning, said government sources. Mangapudi Srinivas, who hails from Visakhapatnam, and his colleague Kaushal Anish Sharma were released at 10.30 in the morning and had spoken to their families. Anish Sharma's wife thanked Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj for ensuring their safe release. She also thanked the ministry and the mission for keeping the family informed of developments almost on daily basis. Sharma and Srinivas were reportedly travelling to Dangote Cement Plant in a car from their residential quarters at around 7.20 pm on June 29 when a group of armed men kidnapped them at a traffic signal. (ANI)

Two Indians kidnapped in Nigeria released after fortnight

Congolese student Arnold Mutumbo Muama refuses to be cowed by a spate of racist violence towards Africans in India&#39;s capital New Delhi, defiant after a friend was beaten up by security guards at his apartment block. 
 
&quot;The guard called him a &#39;monster&#39; in Hindi before taking him to the basement and beating him,&quot; recalled Muama, 29, who chairs a Congolese welfare association. 
 
Racism against Africans in India was thrown into the spotlight following the brutal stoning to death in May of Congolese national Masunda Kitada Oliver in a dispute over an auto-rickshaw, a motorised three-wheeler. 
 
Following the attack, African ambassadors in New Delhi threatened to recommend to their governments that they don&#39;t send students to the capital &quot;as their security is not guaranteed&quot;. 
 
Around 30,000 Africans live in New Delhi, according to police, and they have told AFP of numerous humiliations they face, from insults in the street to housing discrimination and even violent attacks. 
 
This week, television footage showed police officers in the southern city of Bangalore forcefully restraining a Nigerian woman following an altercation at a market.&nbsp;She was tied up with ropes before being injected with sedatives. 
 
Despite these incidents, IT student Muama believes it is &quot;out of the question to live in fear&quot;. 
 
&quot;You have to be aware of your rights,&quot; he said. 
 
&#39;They eat dogs&#39;&nbsp; 
 
In Khirki Extension, a bustling set of interlacing streets in the south of the Indian capital long home to a sizeable Nigerian community, prejudices remain on display. 
 
&quot;The way they eat, drink, live... Everything is different,&quot; said Inderjeet Singh, a real estate agent who has been in the neighbourhood for 15 years.&nbsp;&quot;People say they eat street dogs, families fear they cut their children into pieces and eat them,&quot; the 53-year-old said. 
 
The number of Nigerians living in the district has dwindled since January 2014, when it was the scene of a crackdown by a member of the Delhi Legislative Assembly Somnath Bharti. 
 
Bharti, accompanied by supporters of his anti-corruption party and night vision cameras, took to the streets to denounce an alleged prostitution and drug trafficking network run by Nigerians and Ugandans. 
 
Bharti attempted to force the police to search several apartments, and reportedly ordered four Africans to take urine tests to detect any traces of drugs. 
 
In an attempt to now tackle racist views, India&#39;s foreign minister Sushma Swaraj has promised an awareness campaign in neighbourhoods with large numbers of African inhabitants. 
 
&quot;We are trying to break the communication gap between the locals and our African friends,&quot; RP Upadhyay, a senior Delhi Police official in charge of the campaign told AFP. 
 
&quot;We are requesting everyone that whenever anything happens, report it to the police.&quot; 
 
&#39;Good friendships&#39;&nbsp; 
 
The death of the Congolese student comes as India is seeking to charm African nations, seeking to rival China, which has long staked its interest on the continent. 
 
Following an India-Africa summit last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited four African countries in early July. 
 
Nigerian, Cameroonian and Congolese residents in New Delhi interviewed by AFP say that while they encounter difficulties in daily life, many Indians are open and tolerant towards them. 
 
Congolese student Loic Ipanga, 24, believes the &quot;racist reactions&quot; he experiences are often due to ignorance of Africa. 
 
&quot;It is very shocking that every time an Indian sees you, he asks you if you are Nigerian, thinking that because of my skin colour I must be Nigerian,&quot; he says.&nbsp;&quot;This is sometimes a disturbing issue.&quot; 
 
Yet he says he has &quot;very good friendships with Indians, who are willing to get up in the middle of the night to help you&quot;. 
 
&quot;We must act like adults -- mature and wise. You cannot lay a hand on anyone,&quot; he said. 
 
(AFP)

30,000 Africans who live in Delhi face numerous humiliations, from insults in the street to housing discrimination and violent attacks

Congolese student Arnold Mutumbo Muama refuses to be cowed by a spate of racist violence towards Africans in India's capital New Delhi, defiant after a friend was beaten up by security guards at his apartment block. "The guard called him a 'monster' in Hindi before taking him to the basement and beating him," recalled Muama, 29, who chairs a Congolese welfare association. Racism against Africans in India was thrown into the spotlight following the brutal stoning to death in May of Congolese national Masunda Kitada Oliver in a dispute over an auto-rickshaw, a motorised three-wheeler. Following the attack, African ambassadors in New Delhi threatened to recommend to their governments that they don't send students to the capital "as their security is not guaranteed". Around 30,000 Africans live in New Delhi, according to police, and they have told AFP of numerous humiliations they face, from insults in the street to housing discrimination and even violent attacks. This week, television footage showed police officers in the southern city of Bangalore forcefully restraining a Nigerian woman following an altercation at a market. She was tied up with ropes before being injected with sedatives. Despite these incidents, IT student Muama believes it is "out of the question to live in fear". "You have to be aware of your rights," he said. 'They eat dogs' In Khirki Extension, a bustling set of interlacing streets in the south of the Indian capital long home to a sizeable Nigerian community, prejudices remain on display. "The way they eat, drink, live... Everything is different," said Inderjeet Singh, a real estate agent who has been in the neighbourhood for 15 years. "People say they eat street dogs, families fear they cut their children into pieces and eat them," the 53-year-old said. The number of Nigerians living in the district has dwindled since January 2014, when it was the scene of a crackdown by a member of the Delhi Legislative Assembly Somnath Bharti. Bharti, accompanied by supporters of his anti-corruption party and night vision cameras, took to the streets to denounce an alleged prostitution and drug trafficking network run by Nigerians and Ugandans. Bharti attempted to force the police to search several apartments, and reportedly ordered four Africans to take urine tests to detect any traces of drugs. In an attempt to now tackle racist views, India's foreign minister Sushma Swaraj has promised an awareness campaign in neighbourhoods with large numbers of African inhabitants. "We are trying to break the communication gap between the locals and our African friends," RP Upadhyay, a senior Delhi Police official in charge of the campaign told AFP. "We are requesting everyone that whenever anything happens, report it to the police." 'Good friendships' The death of the Congolese student comes as India is seeking to charm African nations, seeking to rival China, which has long staked its interest on the continent. Following an India-Africa summit last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited four African countries in early July. Nigerian, Cameroonian and Congolese residents in New Delhi interviewed by AFP say that while they encounter difficulties in daily life, many Indians are open and tolerant towards them. Congolese student Loic Ipanga, 24, believes the "racist reactions" he experiences are often due to ignorance of Africa. "It is very shocking that every time an Indian sees you, he asks you if you are Nigerian, thinking that because of my skin colour I must be Nigerian," he says. "This is sometimes a disturbing issue." Yet he says he has "very good friendships with Indians, who are willing to get up in the middle of the night to help you". "We must act like adults -- mature and wise. You cannot lay a hand on anyone," he said. (AFP)

Facing racist abuse, Africans in India refuse to give in to fear

Eleven Indians who had been languishing in a Nigerian prison for two years have been released, confirmed India&#39;s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. 
 
Employees of a Indian merchant navy firm, the crew&#39;s ship got stranded in Nigeria and the entire crew was arrested for violating laws of international waters in 2014. 
 
In a tweet, Swaraj also appreciated the efforts of Indian high commissioner in Nigeria B N Reddy for expediting their repatriation. 
 
Meanwhile, Swaraj has said that the government is making all efforts to secure the release of two Indians abducted from Gboko, a town in the Benue state of north-central Nigeria. 
 
The abducted men are Anish Sharma from Karnataka and &nbsp;Mangipudi Sai Srinivas from the southern Indian state of Andhara Pradesh. 
 
Both were travelling to Dangote Cement Plant in a car from their residential quarters last Wednesday, when a group of armed men kidnapped them at a traffic signal. 
 
Swaraj said that she spoke to Anish Sharma`s wife and assured her that the Government is doing its best to secure their release from abductors. 
 
In a tweet she said she has deputed a senior officer to update the family regularly.External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup had on Friday described the abduction as &quot;nothing surprising or new in that area&quot;, saying such incidents keep happening there. 
 
&nbsp;(ANI)&nbsp;

Employees of a merchant navy firm, their ship got stranded, and the crew was arrested for violating laws of International waters in 2014

Eleven Indians who had been languishing in a Nigerian prison for two years have been released, confirmed India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. Employees of a Indian merchant navy firm, the crew's ship got stranded in Nigeria and the entire crew was arrested for violating laws of international waters in 2014. In a tweet, Swaraj also appreciated the efforts of Indian high commissioner in Nigeria B N Reddy for expediting their repatriation. Meanwhile, Swaraj has said that the government is making all efforts to secure the release of two Indians abducted from Gboko, a town in the Benue state of north-central Nigeria. The abducted men are Anish Sharma from Karnataka and Mangipudi Sai Srinivas from the southern Indian state of Andhara Pradesh. Both were travelling to Dangote Cement Plant in a car from their residential quarters last Wednesday, when a group of armed men kidnapped them at a traffic signal. Swaraj said that she spoke to Anish Sharma`s wife and assured her that the Government is doing its best to secure their release from abductors. In a tweet she said she has deputed a senior officer to update the family regularly.External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup had on Friday described the abduction as "nothing surprising or new in that area", saying such incidents keep happening there. (ANI)

11 Indians released from Nigerian prison

The Pakistan government has reportedly said that it will decide whether or not to allow Indian investigators to visit the country in connection with their probe into a deadly terror attack on an Indian airbase after Eid-ul-Fitr.&nbsp; 
 
This year, on January 2, a heavily armed group attacked the Pathankot Air Force Station, part of the India`s Western Air Command, killing six Indian security personnel. New Delhi blamed Pakistan-based jihadi group Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) for orchestrating the brutal assault.&nbsp; 
 
To discuss India&#39;s request for a visit by its investigators and issues related to bilateral dialogue between the two neighbours, a high-level meeting to be attended by top civil and military officials will be convened by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after he returns from London, reports the Express Tribune. 
 
The Express Tribune has quoted a senior official, who is part of the government`s core team dealing with India, that the meeting would decide whether to allow a team from India&#39;s National Investigation Agency (NIA) to travel to Pakistan for carrying forward the probe into the Pathankot attack. 
 
It may be recalled that a five-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) from Pakistan had visited India between March 27 and 31 to collect evidence with regard to the attack. The team comprising officials from police and intelligence agencies had met officials from National Investigation Agency (NIA) in New Delhi and had also been given access to the Pathankot airbase where the attack took place.Islamabad, however, contended that its investigators were given limited access as they were not allowed to meet eyewitnesses. 
 
New Delhi, in return, requested Pakistan to allow its investigators to visit the country to question alleged masterminds of the attack including JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar and his brother.&nbsp; 
 
So far, Pakistan has not officially responded to the Indian request. One of the reasons behind the government`s reluctance has been reported that it thinks India may use the visit to ridicule Pakistan. 
 
&quot;We will take the final decision after Eid,&quot; the Express Tribune quoted an official as saying. The official on being asked about the prospects of resumption of the bilateral dialogue said India appears to be &#39;hiding behind the Pathankot incident&#39;.&nbsp; 
 
The Pathankot attack led to the cancellation of crucial foreign secretary-level talks, which were to take place in mid-January. India`s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, last week at a news conference in New Delhi, said that foreign secretary-level talks were not cancelled but New Delhi is only awaiting probe from Pakistan side on the Pathankot attack. Though the prospects of resumption of talks at present are at grim, officials are hoping that the both nations will eventually return to the negotiating table before the next Saarc summit scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in November this year. 
 
(ANI)&nbsp;

The Pathankot attack led to cancellation of crucial foreign secretary-level talks between the neighbours

The Pakistan government has reportedly said that it will decide whether or not to allow Indian investigators to visit the country in connection with their probe into a deadly terror attack on an Indian airbase after Eid-ul-Fitr. This year, on January 2, a heavily armed group attacked the Pathankot Air Force Station, part of the India`s Western Air Command, killing six Indian security personnel. New Delhi blamed Pakistan-based jihadi group Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) for orchestrating the brutal assault. To discuss India's request for a visit by its investigators and issues related to bilateral dialogue between the two neighbours, a high-level meeting to be attended by top civil and military officials will be convened by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after he returns from London, reports the Express Tribune. The Express Tribune has quoted a senior official, who is part of the government`s core team dealing with India, that the meeting would decide whether to allow a team from India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) to travel to Pakistan for carrying forward the probe into the Pathankot attack. It may be recalled that a five-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) from Pakistan had visited India between March 27 and 31 to collect evidence with regard to the attack. The team comprising officials from police and intelligence agencies had met officials from National Investigation Agency (NIA) in New Delhi and had also been given access to the Pathankot airbase where the attack took place.Islamabad, however, contended that its investigators were given limited access as they were not allowed to meet eyewitnesses. New Delhi, in return, requested Pakistan to allow its investigators to visit the country to question alleged masterminds of the attack including JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar and his brother. So far, Pakistan has not officially responded to the Indian request. One of the reasons behind the government`s reluctance has been reported that it thinks India may use the visit to ridicule Pakistan. "We will take the final decision after Eid," the Express Tribune quoted an official as saying. The official on being asked about the prospects of resumption of the bilateral dialogue said India appears to be 'hiding behind the Pathankot incident'. The Pathankot attack led to the cancellation of crucial foreign secretary-level talks, which were to take place in mid-January. India`s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, last week at a news conference in New Delhi, said that foreign secretary-level talks were not cancelled but New Delhi is only awaiting probe from Pakistan side on the Pathankot attack. Though the prospects of resumption of talks at present are at grim, officials are hoping that the both nations will eventually return to the negotiating table before the next Saarc summit scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in November this year. (ANI)

Pakistan likely to consider India's request to investigate airbase attack after Eid

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