India’s envoy to Qatar met eight ex-Navy personnel – sentenced to dying in October for causes nonetheless not identified – on Sunday, the federal government mentioned this afternoon. Exterior Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi mentioned, “Our Ambassador acquired consular entry to satisfy all eight in jail on December 3.”
On India’s attraction in opposition to the dying sentence, Mr Bagchi mentioned, “There have been two hearings thus far (these have been held on November 23 and November 30). We’re carefully following the matter and lengthening all authorized and consular help. This can be a delicate concern, however we’ll do no matter we are able to.”
The following listening to is predicted quickly, NDTV has discovered.
The Ambassador’s assembly with the sailors has been seen as a constructive step – one which addresses considerations over consular entry to the eight naval personnel, which appears now to have improved.
Additionally seen as a constructive step is that there have been two hearings since India filed its attraction.
#WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi says, “You’ll have seen Prime Minister Modi meet Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad, the Amir of Qatar in Dubai on the sidelines of CoP28. They’ve had dialog on the general bilateral relationship in addition to within the well-being of the… pic.twitter.com/PfcBKtKvnm
— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2023
News of the assembly with the eight sailors – arrested in August final yr by that nation’s intelligence company, allegedly for spying – is being linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with the Qatar ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, on the side-lines of CoP28 summit in Dubai.
READ | Qatar Accepts India’s Appeal Against Death Penalty To 8 Navy Veterans
“You’ll have seen (that) Prime Minister Modi meet Sheikh Tamim nin Hamad, the Emir of Qatar in Dubai on the side-lines of (the) CoP28 (summit). That they had dialog on the general bilateral relationship in addition to the well-being of the Indian group…” Mr Bagchi mentioned.
The specifics of the PM’s transient assembly with the Emir haven’t been made public, however it does seem the Prime Minister has now taken up this matter with the Qatari ruler straight.
READ | Qatar Sentences 8 Indian Navy Veterans To Death: A Timeline Of The Case
On November 24 a Qatari courtroom had accepted India’s formal attraction in opposition to the dying sentence, which the federal government mentioned had left it “deeply shocked”.
READ | 8 Navy Veterans Get Death In Qatar, “Shocked” India To Contest Order
The arrested naval personnel are Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht and Sailor Ragesh Gopakumar.
The eight ex-Navy officers embrace embellished people who as soon as commanded main Indian warships, and have been working for a personal agency offering coaching and associated providers to Qatar’s armed forces.
Households of the eight spoke to NDTV and flatly denied the spying allegations.
READ | “Went To Build Qatar’s Security”: Families Of Indian Sailors On Death Row
They have been “not engaged in espionage for Israel”, the households mentioned. “They went to construct the Qatari Navy and construct that nation’s safety. They may by no means spy. There aren’t any proof of allegations…”
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