[ad_1]
One of the veterans said that they wouldn’t have been standing here without PM Modi’s intervention. (Image: X/ANI)
This diplomatic win comes weeks after PM Modi’s meeting with Qatar’s Emir on the sidelines of COP28 Summit in Dubai
In a major diplomatic win for India, Qatar released the eight Indian Navy veterans who were earlier sentenced to Death for spying. The Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, welcomed the Veterans back home and appreciated the Amir of the State of Qatar for enabling the release.
“The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar. Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India. We appreciate the decision by the Amir of the State of Qatar to enable the release and home-coming of these nationals,” the MEA said in its statement.
Returning to their homeland, the seven Navy veterans lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring diplomatic intervention necessary to secure their release.
The former Navy officers, accused of allegedly spying on a submarine programme, were first sentence to death there. However, due to diplomatic intervention by New Delhi, their capital punishment was commuted to an extended prison term by the Qatari court.
The external affairs ministry had assured the family members that they would mobilise all possible diplomatic channels for these veterans’ return.
Breathing in the air of their homeland, the seven Navy veterans arrived at the Delhi airport and raised chants of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’.
One of the veterans, spoke to ANI and hailed PM Modi for raising their sentencing with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani while also appreciating the continuous diplomatic efforts at his request.
“I feel relieved and delighted to finally be back home safe and sound. I wish to thank Prime Minister Modi as this wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for his personal intervention to secure our release. I also wish to express my gratitude to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamas Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar,” he said.
Another veteran, with a smile on his face, said that “Without the intervention of PM Modi, we would not have walked free. We wouldn’t be standing before you today had it not been for his untiring efforts and interventions at the highest levels to get us freedom.”
The release of the veterans is also a big diplomatic win for the nation as Qatar’s decision comes weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 Summit in Dubai.
PM Modi had said that, in the meeting, they discussed the well-being of the Indian community in Qatar.
(With ANI inputs)
[ad_2]
Source link
