NEW DELHI – The grieving families of the 39 construction workers, whosebodies were found in Iraq after they were abducted by Islamic Stateterrorists in Iraq in 2014 have said that Indian government has betrayedus.

We were given false assurance for years by the Centre, which said that themen were alive.

Gurpinder Kaur, the sister of Punjab resident Manjinder Singh who waskilled in Iraq, heard the news on television, and refused to believe thather brother was dead because she said external affairs minister SushmaSwaraj told her that her brother was alive, Hindustan Times has reported.

“Our fate is like that of the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh violence who arestill being deprived of justice,” Gurpinder, who galvanised the families ofthe missing men in the region, said.

She said it was unfair that they learned about the news from televisionchannels and not the Union government. “The families kept trying to callthe office of Sushma Swaraj, but no one picked up the phone,” she alleged.

This proves that the government was not sincere about rescuing the missingmen, she said.

“I heard this on television. Until the MEA (ministry of external affairs)does not contact me, I will not believe this,” Gurpinder said. “We shouldhave been contacted as soon as they received the information. Had that beendone it would not have been such a huge blow. We feel betrayed from allsides.”

Gurpinder said Swaraj “cared only about her reputation”.