External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said that 41 Indians who were taken captive in Iraq are safe.

Replying to a calling attention motion in the Lok Sabha today on the situation arising out of Indians stranded in Iraq, she said although the government is not directly in touch with the captive Indians, various sources have confirmed their well being.

She suggested for an appeal by the House to the captors of the Indians. She said their release during the ongoing holy month of Ramzaan can be a festive gift to India.

She said the government is ready to provide all kinds of facilities to all those stranded in Iraq if they are willing to come back. The Minister said altogether over 4000 Indians including 46 nurses from Kerala have reached home till Tuesday. Out of the total, the government has provided air tickets to 3,113 people.

The minister also gave state-wise details of Indians who reached back. Mrs Swaraj said that she had contacted all the foreign ministers of Gulf countries in this regard. She also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking stock of the situation every day.

Later, the House has taken up a Bill to give afetc to the financial proposals of the cventral government for the financial year 2014-15, moved by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.