Hostages’ kin storm briefing
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Dec 26 — It was time when some of the harassed relatives of the passengers onboard the hijacked aircraft decided to make the government hear. The agony, anxiety and stress the relatives of the 150-passengers in captivity since Friday night were undergoing broke all barriers of patience and they stormed into a press briefing by the External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh.

Sanjeev Chibber (centre), a relative of one of the hostages aboard the hijacked Indian Airlines flight, gestures as he speaks after barging into the press conference given by Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh in New Delhi on Sunday.

“When the government could release hardcore militants to secure the release of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s daughter Rubiya, why can’t you accept the demands now. Some highly qualified persons are on the plane,” was a shrill demand that punctured the tense atmosphere.

It was a reminder from Dr Sanjeev Chhibber, whose six relatives are on board the plane. And his demand seemed to find voice from others after the hijackers made known their demand for the release of Maulana Masood Azhar in exchange of the hostages.

The relatives contended that if the V.P. Singh government could release some militants in 1990 to secure the release of Rubiya Sayeed, daughter of the then Union Home Minister, what prevented the goverment from doing so to secure the release of 161 passengers.

While the media contingent was taken aback by the sudden onrush of agitated relatives who started questioning Mr Jaswant Singh, on his part the minister assured them that he shared their anguish and would talk to them separately after the media meet.

“We are not untouched by your pain. It is your right to demand an answer from me. It is my duty to listen to you and address your concerns,” Mr Jaswant Singh told the relatives who had come to the Press Information Bureau after being at the Prime Minister’s residence.

A woman who was carrying a child in her arms broke down while shouting at the minister and asking for information about her relatives, her feeling was echoed by many others.

Dr Chhibber angrily complained to the minister that the government was soft pedalling the issue. He said the relatives were ‘groping in the dark’ as no information or assistance was forthcoming from the officials.

After the press conference, Mr Jaswant Singh met the relatives and were assured that all steps were being taken to ensure the safe return of the passengers.

The relatives later met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee who assured them that the government was doing everything possible to secure their release.

“The Prime Minister assured the delegation that everything was being done to get them released”, an official spokesman told reporters after their meeting with Mr Vajpayee.

The relatives, however, gave a mixed reaction on their emotional meeting with the Prime Minister, with some expressing satisfaction and others showing despondency.