External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Monday said nearly 5,000 Indians have been brought back from Iraq since it was embroiled in conflict, and urged parliamentarians not to believe rumours floating about those trapped in the West Asian nation.
Giving clarifications after a calling attention motion in Rajya Sabha, Sushma Swaraj also urged the members to convince everyone they know in Iraq or Libya to return to India.
Giving the details of Indians trapped in the conflict torn regions of Iraq, she said 15,000 of 22,000 Indians in Iraq are in safe zones.
She also said the 41 Indians kidnapped by the ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and the Syria) are fine.
"There are several rumours floating around, I would urge the members not to believe them. The kidnapped Indians are safe," the minister said after one of the members quoted some reports of the Indians being dead.
"I am awaiting them as a mother awaits the return of her children. We have knocked every door, and leaving no stone unturned," she said.
Sushma Swaraj said all efforts are being made to rescue each and every Indian.
A written statement from the minister said till Aug 2, 4,900 Indians were brought back.
"The numbers keep changing," she said, adding that by now nearly 5,000 have been rescued.
