By IANS,
New Delhi: Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi Wednesday assured Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal that all steps have been taken to provide legal aid to the 17 Indians on death row in Sharjah.
Badal had telephoned Ravi, who is undergoing Ayurvedic treatment in Thrissur, Kerala, and discussed the issue, V.N. Ajayan, the additional private secretary to the central minister, said.
Ravi told Badal that his ministry appointed a leading law firm in the UAE, Mohammad Salman and Associates, to file an appeal and conduct all other legal proceedings for the Indians, all from Punjab.
According to UAE law, an appeal is to be filed within 15 days. It is expected to be filed Thursday.
“Badal expressed thanks to Ravi for making all efforts to rescue the Indians,” Ajayan, who is assisting the minister in Thrissur, told IANS over phone.
The Indians were awarded death sentence for killing a Pakistani over an illegal alcohol business.
Earlier, Badal had taken up the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Singh informed the chief minister that the ministries of external affairs and overseas Indian affairs were asked to provide all possible help to the Indians to ensure a positive result.