India invokes Islam for release of hostages

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India invokes Islam for release of hostages

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(INDIA INVOKES ISLAM MEANS IT SHOULD ALSO INVOKE HINDU CULTURE.)

 

Sunday, 25 July , 2004, 20:36

 

New Delhi: India on Sunday invoked the teachings of Islam and its

close ties with Iraq to renew its appeal for the release of three of

its nationals taken hostage by a terrorist group in that country.

"Islam teaches everybody to be just and fair and the people of India

expect that captors will also honours the Islamic way of thinking

towards the innocent," Minister of State for External Affairs E

Ahamed said.

 

Ahamed made the appeal in a statement in Arabic before television

cameras in a bid to address the captors and the Iraqi people

directly in their language.

Ahamed said: "As far as I am concerned, I have absolute faith in

Almighty Allah to give Hidayath to the group who keep out people as

hostages to release them."

 

"As a believer in God, I always hope that the Almighty will help our

people in being released from the captors," he added.

 

As a well-wisher of the people of Iraq and also as the champion of

the Arab cause, India "naturally expects" that the three hostages

would be released soon, he said.

 

"The people of India have great faith in the people of Iraq, who

will never think of doing anything harmful to India and its people

because the historical and traditional relationship between the

people Iraq and India is based on mutual trust, confidence and

brotherhood," Ahamed said.

 

He said India supported the aspirations of the Iraqi people

and "every patriotic Iraqi" would appreciate this.

 

"There is no justification for anybody to keep innocent persons in

captivity. Those who are in custody as hostages also have their

families back home in India who live in tears," he added.

 

Answering a question, Ahamed said negotiations were going on for the

release of the hostages between the transport company, which

employed them, and the kidnappers.

 

He denied that the government was discussing any ransom demand of

the kidnappers. "This is the first time I am hearing about it," he

said.

 

External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh, however, said on Saturday

that the kidnappers appeared to be not a political group "but some

irresponsible persons who are doing it for monetary gains",

indicating that that negotiations were over the ransom demand.

 

The Indian hostages have been identified as Antyarami, Tilak Raj and

Sukhdev Singh. They were captured along with three Kenyans and an

Egyptian.

 

The Minister's appeal came ahead of the Monday deadline set by the

captors, a little known group called the Holders of the Black

Banners, for all Indians and others to pull out of Iraq.

 

The kidnappers had extended a Saturday deadline they had set by 48

hours so that their demands could be met. They have threatened to

behead the hostages one after another every 72 hours if their

demands are not met.

 

All seven hostages were employed as truckers by a Kuwait-based

transport firm, Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport Company.

 

IANS