Will again take up Iraq hostages issue with centre: Badal

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Saturday said his state will again take up with the central government the issue of safe and prompt release of 39 Punjabis trapped in Iraq.

Interacting with the media in Lambi assembly segment in Muktsar district, Badal said the state government, in the last few months, has been consistently taking up this matter with the external affairs ministry.

Badal's statement came following reports that the 39 Punjabis were killed by Islamic State (IS) terrorists in Iraq.

He said he has asked union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal - who is also his daughter-in-law - and other Akali Dal parliamentarians to pursue this matter with the central government.

"We are extremely worried for the sons of the soil trapped in Mosul city of Iraq and no stone was being left unturned for ensuring their safe return to their motherland," Badal said.

He said he was in regular touch with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and the centre's special envoy for Iraq in this regard.

Over 700 men from Punjab were stuck in Iraq in June this year. While many have returned, the fate of these 39 men has been unknown after they were taken hostage.

The distraught families of the hostages have been pleading with the central and Punjab governments to get the men released.

Swaraj Friday told parliament that efforts were on to get the hostages released.