New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was personally supervising New Delhi’s efforts to free eight Navy veterans jailed in Qatar, the External Affairs Ministry said today, hours after seven of them landed in Delhi. Responding to media queries during a special briefing, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said, “Prime Minister Modi had been personally supervising this issue. This (the release) is a proof of his leadership and also reflects the strength of (India-Qatar) ties.”
The Navy veterans had been sentenced to death by a Qatar court in October last year
The Navy veterans had been sentenced to death by a Qatar court in October last year, allegedly for spying. Neither New Delhi nor Doha has publicly remarked on the allegations against them. Before their arrest, they were working for private firm Dahra Global and were involved in training Qatar Navy.
The capital punishment was commuted in December following Delhi’s diplomatic push. One of the eight, however, is not back yet. Sources said he is working through paper work and will return soon.