Dehradun: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met with the family of former navy official Saurabh Vashishtha in New Delhi, who is detained in Qatar, and assured them that the government will make all efforts to secure their release. Jaishankar also met the families of others whose kin were detained in Qatar. The EAM said that the government attaches the "highest importance" to the case and will coordinate closely with the families in that regard.
This comes after the Court of First Instance of Qatar passed a verdict of the death penalty for the eight former naval officers, who were detained in Doha. Saurabh Vashishtha, a resident of Dehradun, is one of the eight former Indian sailors, who have been awarded a death sentence by the Qatar court. Saurabh's father has not said anything, however, he was hopeful that the Indian government will bring his son Saurabh Vashishtha safely to India from Qatar.
Mahesh Pandey, Secretary of Clement Town Resident Welfare Society and representative of Haridwar MP Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said that some time ago he met Saurabh Vashishtha. According to Mahesh Pandey, Saurabh Vashishtha is a calm and gentle person. Ever since they came to know that the Qatar government has awarded the death sentence to eight Indians, including Saurabh Vashishtha, they have been worrying.
Similarly, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reportedly spoke to the Ministry of External Affairs regarding the release of Saurabh Vashishtha. While talking to ETV Bharat, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that he cannot say much in this matter because it is at an international level. The Indian government is trying to free the ex-servicemen by talking with the Qatar government. The eight Indian nationals have been imprisoned in Qatar since October 2022 and were accused of allegedly spying on a submarine programme. (With ANI Inputs)
