29 workers rescued from Saudi Arabia: Indian FM

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said the government had rescued 29 workers from Saudi Arabia and was bringing them home. (Photo by Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Indian Diaspora event) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)])

“We have rescued those 29 workers from Saudi Arabia. We are paying for their air tickets as well,” Swaraj wrote on twitter.

Last week the minister asked its ambassador in Saudi Arabia, Ahmad Javed, to seek release of 29 migrant workers detained there.

The Indian migrant workers hailing from southern state of Telangana have reportedly been held in captivity by a company in Saudi Arabia without food or basic amenities.

Swaraj’s intervention came after Telangana Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Affairs Minister K T Rama Rao appealed foreign minister that workers be repatriated to India.

According to Rao, the workers had sought leave from the company to visit their homes in India, which the company denied besides demanding a ransom fro them.

Over 3 million Indians are working in Saudi Arabia.

With dearth of jobs and low salaries at home, thousands of Indian workers travel to the Middle East every year for better prospects.

Meanwhile, Swaraj also announced that two Indians abducted in South Sudan have been released.

“I am happy to inform about the release of two Indian nationals Midhun and Edward who were abducted in South Sudan,” Swaraj wrote on twitter on Friday.

Swaraj has been proactive and prompt in reaching out to people especially distressed Indians abroad and taking cognizance of issues pertaining to her ministry using social media.