Ker CM writes to External Affairs minister on Indian prisoners

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today urged the Centre to direct diplomatic missions in the UAE and other Middle Eastern nations to try and secure the release of Indians languishing in their jails.
The move comes days after Sharjah's ruler Sultan Bin Mohammed Al-Quasimi announced -- on the request of Chief Minister Vijayan -- of a general amnesty under which a total of 149 Indians serving prison terms for minor and financial offences in Sharjah will be released.
In a letter to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj -- a copy of which was released to the media here -- the chief minister pointed out that the state government and the Ministry of External affairs had been receiving several representations from Indian citizenssentenced to jail in civil offences, especially in the Middle East countries, which have stringent legal framework.

"It is requested that MEA may seriously consider taking this step and direct the diplomatic missions in UAE and other Middle East countries to pursue this request," Vijayan said in the letter.
Vijayan mentioned that he requested Sharjah Ruler Al- Quasimi, during his recent visit to the state, to consider the release of prisoners as a humanitarian gesture.
This request had been immediately agreed to by the sheikh and 149 prisoners had been ordered to be released, he said.
"It is suggested that citing this gesture, if the Indian government takes up this issue with other Emirates in UAE, we may be able to secure the release of a large number of similarly placed Indians," the chief minister said.