File picture of Congress leader Manish Tewari.
Former Union Minister and Congress leader Manish Tewari today took a dig at Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, saying she seemed to have a "direct 'hotline' to the ISIS in Libya", and asked whether India is "doing business" with the extremist group in that country.
"Happy 2 Indians released in Sirte Libya pray for others Ques- since Sushma Swaraj claiming credit- is India doing business with IS in Libya?," Mr Tewari tweeted, adding, "Since Foreign Minister seems to hv direct"hotline" to IS or ISIS in Libya what happened to 57 people from Punjab Are they dead or alive FM?"
The 49-year-old Congressman's comments came after the Foreign Minister yesterday announced the release of two Indian teachers who were among four kidnapped in an Islamic State-controlled territory in Libya earlier this week. "Four Indians abducted in Libya - I am happy we have been able to secure the release of Lakshmikant and Vijay Kumar. Trying for other two," Ms Swaraj tweeted on Friday.
Slamming Mr Tewari for making irresponsible comments, BJP Spokesperson Nalin Kohli said, "Why does the Congress Party feel unhappy or perturbed when Government of India achieve something for Indian citizens?"
The four men, who have been working for more than a year at the Sirte university in Libya, were detained at a checkpoint about 50 kilometres outside the town late on Wednesday while on their way back to India.
The government had, in July last year, issued an advisory asking its citizens to leave Libya.
Various militias and Islamist factions have been battling in Libya since former strongman Moammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed in 2011.
The area where the men were detained is controlled by the Islamic State, which has seized large swathes of Iraq and Syria and has declared itself a caliphate.