'Will Make All Efforts To Secure Release': Jaishankar Meets Families Of 8 Indians Sentenced To Death In Qatar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he underlined that Government of India will make all efforts to secure the release of the eight Indians who have been sentenced to death in Qatar.

External Affairs Minister has met with the families of eight former Indian Navy officials who have been in detention in Qatar since August 2022 and were recently awarded a death sentence. The minister shared on X, formerly Twitter, that the met the families of these Indians and stressed the Centre's concern and pain over the development. He also shared that the government is seriously working on the issue and would make all efforts to secure their release.

"Met this morning with the families of the 8 Indians detained in Qatar. Stressed that Government attaches the highest importance to the case. Fully share the concerns and pain of the families. Underlined that Government will continue to make all efforts to secure their release. Will coordinate closely with the families in that regard," the minister said.

This comes after India expressed deep concern over the sentence and asserted that it will contest the ruling. In response to the verdict, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement and said: "We are deeply shocked by the verdict of the death penalty and are awaiting the detailed judgment. We are in touch with the family members and the legal team, and we are exploring all legal options. We will also take up the verdict with Qatari authorities."

Talking to reporters, BJP national spokesperson Ajay Alok said that India will fight a legal battle to bring back all eight former Indian Navy personnel. 

"We are surprised to see that such things also happen. We will fight a legal battle in this matter. The international court of justice is there. I think the government of India will place its stand and we will definitely succeed in bringing them back from there," Alok added.