Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on reports that an Indian IT professional was among the hostages at the Sydney cafe:

"We don't want to discuss it because there is some information that one of our IT persons is also there. So the External Affairs Ministry is keeping in touch with concerned people there -- both our embassy as well as our counterpart also," Naidu told reporters outside Parliament House.

"There is some initial information that some people were taken hostage in Sydney by some person. What is the purpose, what is the motive, (it is) not known and our External Affairs Ministry is keeping in touch with our embassy there in Australia.

"So far information says that people who were held hostages are safe, no harm is done to them. All these information here and there-- nothing has been confirmed about any citizens of our country is in that or not. It is a sensitive matter. I request all people to show restraint till the issue is resolved," he said.