THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the wake of his success in persuading the Sharjah ruler to announce amnesty for Indians facing minor civil cases in Sharjah, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to take initiatives to make similar efforts with other emirates in UAE.
In a letter sent to Ms Swaraj in this regard on Thursday, Mr Vijayan said that the state government and the Centre used to receive scores of representations seeking help for those jailed on UAE prisons for minor civil cases. During the visit of UAE Supreme Council member and Sharjah ruler Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammed Al Qasimi to the state this week, Mr Vijayan took up this matter with him.
The ruler immediately announced the amnesty for Indians jailed in Sharjah for minor civil offences. As many as 149 Indians would be released in the wake of this. Mr Vijayan urged Ms Swaraj that in the backdrop of the Sharjah ruler’s amnesty the external affairs ministry as well as Indian missions abroad may pursue governments of other emirates for the release of hundreds of Indians jailed in those emirates.
