External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was at the receiving end of some harsh comments on Twitter recently after she wrote about Sharjah ruler’s statement granting pardon to 149 Indian prisoners, accused of non-criminal offences, in Sharjah.
The ruler of Sharjah, Sheik Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, earlier made the announcement that as many as 149 Indians, who have completed three years of imprisonment in Sharjah jails and do not have any criminal offences against them, would be set free under a general amnesty.
He said this at Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday while delivering his acceptance speech at a special convocation ceremony of the University of Calicut held at Rajbhavan. Sushma then tweeted, “Emir of Sharjah has been pleased to grant pardon to 149 Indian prisoners accused of minor offences.”
Soon enough, Twitter was abuzz with comments that it was due to the Kerala CM’s effort, this was made possible and she should not be omitting the fact.
.@SushmaSwaraj Madam ji that was the effort and initiative from our @CMOKerala Dont Kummanafy it. https://t.co/mAgQ9sznKJ
— ബട്ട് വൈ..! (@tittoantony) September 26, 2017
1/ @SushmaSwaraj madam Com: @vijayanpinarayi the @CMOKerala posted this decision 8 hours back in his FB. HOW COME YOUR TWEET SO LATE. pic.twitter.com/3kRwZkvbCU
— सुनील अनन्तपुरी (@sunilupdate) September 26, 2017
3/ Madame @SushmaSwaraj there is nothing wrong in congratulating @CMOKerala for this diplomatic victory since he had done it for the nation. pic.twitter.com/CarR26gnhE
—सुनील अनन्तपुरी (@sunilupdate) September 26, 2017
I think it is Kerala CMs effort, Amir declared this decision during his visit to Kerala.https://t.co/zXblvwyfpP
— sarang bmohan (@sarang_b_mohan) September 26, 2017
CM Pinarayi Vijayan had made the plea to the Sharjah ruler during a discussion held at his official residence in the morning. The plea was to release those who have completed three years in jails in Sharjah, in petty crimes and civil cases. Not only Keralites but all foreigners who are held for non-criminal offences will be released from the jails, the ruler said.
It was Pinarayi Vijayan who first said at the convocation that the Sharjah ruler has agreed to release foreigners housed in Sharjah jails.
"The request I made was to release those people in jail. But why should they be returned, they will be allowed to live there, I will give them job, was the response of Sheik Sultan," Vijayan said. This was later confirmed by the ruler in his speech.
Al Qasimi arrived in the state capital on Sunday. He is on a five-day tour to the state. Earlier the interaction between him and the Chief Minister, Council of Ministers had proposed to set up a Special Housing Zone for Keralites in Sharjah, a state cultural centre along with a few other projects.