New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally supervised the efforts to secure the release of eight Navy veterans imprisoned in Qatar, announced the External Affairs Ministry today, shortly after seven of them arrived in Delhi. Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, addressing media queries during a special briefing, emphasized Prime Minister Modi's direct involvement in the matter. Kwatra stated, "Prime Minister Modi has personally overseen this matter. This demonstrates his leadership and reflects the strength of India-Qatar relations."
The Navy veterans, employees of private firm Dahra Global involved in training the Qatar Navy, had been sentenced to death by a Qatar court in October last year on charges of espionage. Notably, neither New Delhi nor Doha has publicly commented on the allegations against them.
Expressing gratitude for their return, Foreign Secretary Kwatra said, "We deeply appreciate the decision of Qatar's government and the Amir to release them. Prime Minister has himself personally supervised all the developments in this case and has never shied away from any initiatives that would ensure the return of Indian nationals back home."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to embark on a diplomatic tour, commencing with a visit to Qatar after concluding his engagements in the UAE on February 14. Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra announced that during the visit to Doha, PM Modi will engage in bilateral discussions with Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad, the Amir of Qatar, and other high-ranking dignitaries. This marks PM Modi's second visit to Qatar, reinforcing the robust bilateral trade relationship between India and Qatar, currently standing at $20 billion.
Providing insights into PM Modi's UAE visit from February 13-14, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra outlined the planned engagements.
This includes a meeting with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, followed by a bilateral discussion and the exchange of agreements. This marks the fifth meeting between the two leaders in the last eight months. Additionally, on February 14, PM Modi will participate in the World Governments Summit 2024 as a guest of honour, delivering a keynote address on the closing day.
When questioned about the number of Indian prisoners in UAE, Qatar, and other countries, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said: "Govt of India has extensive mechanisms in place for counselor dialogues and discussions involving the Indian system and the systems in those countries. One of the principal tasks is to keep working towards the early release of all Indian prisoners irrespective of which country they are from."
"There are also established mechanisms and systems in place to ensure that whatever assistance is possible for these prisoners is made available through government mechanisms. These systems have been significantly strengthened and their remit has been extensively expanded," he added further.
Regarding the inauguration of the BAPS temple, Kwatra stated, "The inauguration program of the BAPS temple is one of the key parts of PM Modi's UAE visit. As per the available information right now, around 2,000-5,000 devotees are expected to visit the temple on that day."
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