Slammed by Congress and Left for giving " false hopes" and "failing to perform its duty", Swaraj shot back, saying she had been waiting for "conclusive proof".
Controversy broke out when Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj told the Parliament that the 39 Indians missing in Iraq, so far claimed to be alive by the government, were dead. Slammed by Congress and Left for giving " false hopes" and "failing to perform its duty", Swaraj shot back, saying she had been waiting for "conclusive proof".
"I never gave any false hope to anyone. I was not involved in any falsehood," she said, referring to her statements in Parliament in 2014 and 2017. "I had very clearly said that I will declare them dead if I get conclusive proof. I kept my word. I will get my closure when the families receive the bodies," the minister said, accusing the Congress of indulging in "very cheap level of politics" and having "crossed the limit". "Will we indulge in politics over death as well," she said.
The CPI (M) lashed out at the government for not informing the families of the Mosul victims before informing Parliament.
CPI (M) MP Mohammad Salim said it showed that the government was "insensitive and inhuman". "It is a farce. The government should have contacted the families of the victims first before Parliament was informed. Earlier, the government had always claimed that it was in touch with the families. So many times we see that policies of the government are announced outside Parliament even though the House is in session," Salim said.
Countering this allegation, Swaraj said she followed parliamentary procedures. "It was my duty to first inform the House about (it)," Swaraj said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said all Indians stood in solidarity with families of the Indians killed in Mosul in Iraq and the government was "fully committed" to ensure the safety of Indians abroad. "Every Indian grieves with those who lost their loved ones in Mosul. We stand in solidarity with the bereaved families and pay our respects to the Indians killed in Mosul. "The MEA and particularly my colleagues @SushmaSwaraj Ji and @Gen_VKSingh Ji left no stone unturned in trying to trace and safely bring back those we lost in Mosul," the PM said in a series of tweets.
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