In the return to their native land after enduring months of distressing captivity in Qatar, seven out of eight Indian naval veterans, initially condemned to death on charges of ‘espionage,’ expressed profound admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They asserted that their release would not have materialized without the sustained diplomatic endeavors orchestrated by him.
The death sentence, initially pronounced upon them, underwent commutation to an extended prison term following persistent diplomatic interventions and legal support from New Delhi. Upon finally tasting freedom, the seven former naval officers, upon their arrival at Delhi airport in the early hours of Monday, erupted in chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai.’
Addressing ANI, one of the Navy veterans commended PM Modi for discussing their sentencing with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, accrediting their liberation to the unrelenting diplomatic maneuvers at Modi’s insistence. “I am relieved and elated to be back home unharmed. I extend my gratitude to Prime Minister Modi, for without his personal intervention, our release wouldn’t have been conceivable. I also express appreciation to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar,” he conveyed.
Sporting a relieving smile and a composed demeanor, another liberated former naval officer conveyed to ANI, “Devoid of PM Modi’s interference, our freedom would have remained elusive. We wouldn’t be standing before you today if not for his tireless efforts and interventions at the highest echelons to secure our liberty.”
Another released navy veteran lauded the Central government’s intervention in securing their release, stating, “Both we and our anxious family members awaited this day for an extended period. The fruition of it all is attributable to PM Modi and his personal involvement. He championed our cause with the upper echelons of the Qatari government, ultimately ensuring our release. I lack sufficient words to express my gratitude to him and the Emir of Qatar.”
“We are overjoyed to be back, and this wouldn’t have been possible without the honorable Prime Minister taking a personal interest in the matter. I also extend my thanks to the Emir of Qatar for his personal engagement,” another former Navy officer conveyed to ANI.
Having waited nearly 18 months to reunite with their loved ones in India, another Navy veteran expressed immense gratitude to PM Modi for their repatriation. “This day would not have dawned without the collaborative efforts of PM Modi and the Emir of Qatar. The personal rapport between the two leaders also played a pivotal role in securing our release,” another Navy veteran stated upon landing in Delhi.
Earlier on Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced the release of eight Indian Navy veterans, previously sentenced to death in Qatar. Despite fervent pleas from the kin of the Navy veterans for their release and safe return home, the MEA assured the mobilization of all diplomatic channels and legal aid to facilitate their return.
Of the eight former Navy officers, seven have already returned to India, as per the MEA’s official statement on Monday. The Union government, in an official statement, expressed appreciation for the decision to release the veteran officers, affirming, “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 eight Indian nationals had been incarcerated in Qatar since October 2022, facing allegations of spying on a submarine program. The retired naval personnel were initially handed a death sentence by a Qatar court on undisclosed charges. However, the Qatari Court subsequently commuted the death penalty sentence last year in the Dahra Global case, as per the Ministry of External Affairs.
The sentence has now been altered to imprisonment terms, with the MEA stating, “We have noted the verdict today of the Court of Appeal of Qatar in the Dahra Global case, in which the sentences have been reduced.” The detailed judgment is awaited, with ongoing coordination with the legal team in Qatar, as conveyed by the MEA.
Moreover, the Court of First Instance of Qatar had also issued the judgment against them, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The MEA spokesperson emphasized the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad, discussing bilateral ties and the welfare of the Indian community in Qatar.
The newly appointed spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Jaiswal, underscored the temporal significance of the current period, noting, “Regarding the issue, there is a 60-day window for appeal in the Court of Cassation, the highest court in Qatar.”
The MEA’s legal team possesses the confidential court order detailing the commutation of the death sentences to imprisonment terms, a move disclosed in a press release following the court of appeal’s judgment on December 28.
“We issued a press release in which we informed you that the death sentence, which was originally a death penalty, has been changed to imprisonment sentences. Now our legal team has that court order, and I can confirm that all of them have received sentences of different durations, and the death penalty has been abolished,” Jaiswal affirmed. Furthermore, the MEA spokesperson highlighted the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad, emphasizing a positive discussion on the overall bilateral relationship.
