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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘We are not giving up': Families of Indian prisoners in Qatar demand justice and govt support
'I shifted my daughter from a private school to a government school since I cannot afford it anymore,' Kuldeep said, sobbing over a phone call, while boarding a bus from Delhi to Sangrur in Punjab. She was among the 50 families from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, and Karnataka who protested at Jantar Mantar Thursday, led by the Indian Pravasi Movement. They urged the government to immediately implement the 2015 India-Qatar agreement on the transfer of sentenced people to repatriate Indian prisoners and an audit of the Indian Community Benevolent Fund (ICBF). Approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2014, the agreement allows 'Indian prisoners imprisoned in Qatar or vice-versa to be near their families, for serving the remaining part of their sentence and shall facilitate their social rehabilitation'. Similar agreements have been signed with countries such as the United Kingdom, Mauritius, Bulgaria, Brazil, Cambodia, Egypt, France, Bangladesh, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, and Sri Lanka. The ICBF, under the auspices of the Embassy of India in Doha, Qatar, has been established to provide financial, medical, and other forms of assistance to distressed and underprivileged Indians. However, Kuldeep's husband, Sandeep Singh, 40, arrested on charges of possession of drugs in his car, has been in jail for two and a half years, serving 10 years of imprisonment. His wife and a fourteen-year-old daughter live alone. 'He shifted to Doha in 2007 and has been a taxi driver since then. Recently, he bought his private car. One day, a customer left a bag, which had drugs. Later, the police arrested my husband. Now he is lodged in the central jail, and earns money by washing the clothes of the officers, and then calls us with that money.' Kuldeep is angry with the government's lack of support. 'I have given multiple written complaints now, even to the PM office, the Indian and Qatar embassies. My husband calls me every Friday. On the last call, he said that to date, the lawyer assigned to him by the Qatar government has never come to meet him or present his case. The judge just gave the verdict.' However, she had learned about the protest through her husband a week earlier. 'I have come to Delhi multiple times to file complaints, have exhausted all my resources, and I don't have a job either. He told me over the phone that a group from Kerala is protesting in Delhi, as he had learned from other inmates. I have not given up hope, wherever they say, I will go,' she said. For Parveen Kaur, from Amritsar, her biggest challenge is to make her children understand their father's whereabouts. 'They cry when he calls, asking when you will come. My seven-year-old daughter has lost interest in studies,' she said while travelling along with Kuldeep. Her husband, Gurjeet Singh, also a taxi driver in Qatar, was arrested in a drug case on October 12, 2022. 'I had called him in the daytime, and he said he would call me back. But when he never did, I rang him multiple times at night, then he said he was in the police station,' she said. Now, raising her two children alone, she said that her parents are assisting her, but they are also taking a step back due to the expenses. 'I had sold my jewellery and collected Rs 4.5 lakh and did a direct bank transfer to the Qatar lawyer. His (lawyer's) wife, an Indian, translated to me what the lawyer was saying. They said my husband would be deported soon. But after that, they stopped picking up my calls,' she said, her voice shaking, adding that she, too, received no help from the Indian embassy and the Indian government. Ashraf Ponnain, from Malappuram district in Kerala, was once a prisoner in Qatar, but is now back in India. However, during his last visit, he was unaware that his son, Naushad, had also been implicated in a cheque fraud case. 'I found out that my son was in jail after I got out. They accused him falsel; the sponsor had planted everything. The sponsor made him sign a blank cheque of 1 lakh 40 thousand Riyal. I have lost all the resources now,' he said, adding that he had already paid large amounts to get himself out by selling his shops back in Kerala, and now he has no money left to help his son. R J Sajith, president of the Indian Pravasi Movement, said the prisoners, all coming from poor households, have already borrowed money to reach the foreign country. 'Why is there no implementation of the agreement? Where are the funds from the ICBF going? These people are voiceless, but the embassy and the government have offered no help till now,' he alleged.
Qatar Tribune
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Qatar Tribune
Wednesday Fiesta shines spotlight on Indian arts, culture, sporting excellence
Tribune News Network Doha As part of its ongoing mission to foster cultural pride and community spirit, the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC), under the aegis of the Embassy of India, Qatar, successfully hosted another vibrant edition of its weekly cultural series, 'ICC Wednesday Fiesta', on Wednesday, 11th June 2025, at the ICC Ashoka Hall. Designed to be a dynamic celebration of Indian arts and culture, the event featured a captivating line-up of performances by artists from various ICC affiliated organisations (AOs) and arts centres operating in Qatar. The stage came alive with colourful displays of classical, folk, and contemporary art forms, showcasing the diversity and richness of India's cultural tapestry. The evening began with a warm welcome address delivered by Ravindra Prasad, ICC head of affiliation, who extended greetings to the distinguished guests and members of the Indian community. This was followed by the presidential address from ICC President AP Manikantan, who lauded the consistent efforts of ICC and its affiliates in nurturing and promoting Indian heritage through regular cultural programming. A special highlight of the event was the felicitation of three exceptional Indian athletes from Qatar —Saji Sreekumaran, Shyam Sivaji, and Navas Muhammad — who recently brought laurels to the Indian expatriate community by winning bronze medals in the Men's 35+ Handball category at the World Masters Games held in Taipei, Taiwan. Their achievement was acknowledged with great pride and applause, marking the intersection of cultural celebration and sportingachievement. The evening's programme concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks by Venkappa Bhagavatula, ICC head of in-house activities, who expressed gratitude to all performers, volunteers, and attendees for making the event a resounding success. The event was smoothly and gracefully anchored by Prema, whose professional hosting added to the charm of the evening. The occasion was graced by ICC General Secretary Abraham K Joseph, members of the ICC Managing Committee, presidents of affiliated organisations, and several senior community leaders, all of whom reiterated their commitment to strengthening India-Qatar cultural ties. The 'ICC Wednesday Fiesta' continues to stand as a dynamic platform that not only celebrates India's rich cultural heritage but also recognises the achievements of the Indian diaspora, building a stronger and more vibrant community spirit in Qatar.
India Gazette
26-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Qatar assured their commitment...": says Anurag Thakur, reaffirms India's zero tolerance on terrorism
Doha [Qatar], May 26 (ANI): An Indian all-party parliamentary delegation on Monday in a high-level visit to Qatar, reaffirmed that the two countries' shared commitment to combating terrorism. The delegation was led by Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule and included representatives from multiple political parties. BJP MP and Union Minister Anurag Thakur, a member of the delegation, said the group was united in delivering India's message of zero tolerance towards terrorism. 'Our delegation, comprising representatives from different political parties and ideologies, is united in delivering one clear message across the globe, that India has a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. Trade and terror cannot go together, talks and terror cannot go hand in hand, and blood and water cannot flow together,' Thakur told ANI. He added, 'India, through 'Operation Sindoor', has established a new benchmark, a new normal. This fight against terrorism will continue with even greater intensity and stronger responses.' Thakur warned that India will respond strongly and decisively to any future terrorist attacks, targeting the perpetrators and locations involved. 'If Pakistan again takes any such step or if there is another terrorist attack on India, there will be a decisive, strong response at the right locations, and the perpetrators will be dealt with firmly. There are 52 individuals and entities based in Pakistan connected to terrorism, and the country takes no action against them,' he noted. Thakur noted that India conveyed this position across a series of meetings with Qatari officials, including the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of State for Interior, and the Deputy Speaker of the Qatari Council, as well as with think tanks. He said the delegation urged Qatar to support India's efforts and to send a united message to the international community.,'In Qatar, we urged that they support us and stand with us in this global fight against terrorism. Together, we send a strong, united message that both Qatar and India are against terrorism.' He added, 'India's identity is multicultural, multireligious, and multiethnic. Despite our diversity, with so many languages, religions, and traditions, India stands united.' Thakur noted Qatar's positive response, stating, 'Qatar, too, acknowledged that terrorism benefits no one, and they stand with us in this fight. Together, we are sending a clear message: we are united against terrorism.' In a statement earlier on Monday, Supriya Sule said the Qatari government reiterated its commitment to the long-standing India-Qatar relationship and expressed solidarity with India's position on terrorism. The delegation, including NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule, Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP), Vikramjit Singh Sahney (AAP), Manish Tewari (Congress), Anurag Singh Thakur (BJP), Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu (TDP), Anand Sharma (Congress), V Muraleedharan (BJP) and former diplomat Syed Akbaruddin, will also visit Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa. 'Qatar has assured their commitment to zero tolerance against terrorism. They have promised us that any terrorist attack anywhere in the world will be opposed, and innocent lives must be protected,' Sule said. 'This trip has been extraordinarily successful, and the Qatar government has been very hospitable,' Sule added, noting that both countries are aligned for 'decades to come.' The Indian Embassy in Doha confirmed the meetings, stating in a post on X, 'The multi-party delegation met HE Dr. Mohamed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, MoS for Foreign Affairs and conveyed India's perspectives on the Pahalgam terrorist attack, Operation Sindoor, and India's national consensus for zero-tolerance against terrorism.' It added that the Qatari minister conveyed 'Qatar's solidarity with India and policy of zero tolerance against terrorism for regional stability and prosperity.' The delegation is on a multi-national mission to strengthen the global narrative against cross-border terrorism and highlight India's zero-tolerance approach. The all-party delegation, which includes MPs from the BJP, CPI-M, AITC, and other parties, will continue its outreach in other East Asian countries. This mission is one of several launched by the Modi government as part of a coordinated diplomatic campaign following Operation Sindoor to inform global partners about Pakistan's links to terrorism and India's message of zero tolerance. (ANI)
India Gazette
25-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Our aim is to tell Qatar that we have zero tolerance against terrorism: Indian envoy on all-party delegation visit
Doha [Qatar], May 25 (ANI): An all-party Indian parliamentary delegation is visiting Doha to advance Operation Sindoor, with a clear message of zero tolerance for terrorism and a focus on strengthening India-Qatar ties. The delegation began their visit with a floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and held a meeting at the Indian Embassy in Doha with Indian Ambassador to Qatar, Vipul, to discuss issues related to bilateral cooperation and counter-terrorism. Ambassador Vipul underscored the significance of the visit, stating, 'Qatar is an important partner for India. Our relations with Qatar are historic and it is based on people-to-people ties. For the last two years, PM Modi visited here, and this year, the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, visited India. Our focus is to build political relations along with trade, investment, energy and issues of aim is to tell Qatar that we have zero tolerance against terrorism and that we will not accept terrosim in any form...' He further elaborated on the agenda, saying, 'It is very important to convey our message to all our partners. Yesterday our delegation arrived here, today and tomorrow there are meetings here. These meetings are going to be held with the media, academia, other Qatari degree holders and high officials in the next two days. India and Qatar have very strong relations, and it is very important that we explain our perspective against terrorism to Qatar properly. Even after the Pahalgam terror attack, Qatar issued a statement in which it condemned it and also said that they are against terrorism...' During the visit, the delegation is also engaging with members of the Indian community, meeting with local officials, media, academia, and other stakeholders to reinforce India's zero-tolerance message and build partnerships for trade, investment, and energy cooperation. These efforts are part of a broader diplomatic strategy to highlight India's commitment to fighting terrorism globally and to deepen engagement with strategic partners. After their engagements in Qatar, the delegation will proceed to Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Africa to showcase Operation Sindoor and India's continued stance against terrorism. The delegation is led by NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule and includes Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP), Vikramjit Singh Sahney (AAP), Manish Tewari (Congress), Anurag Singh Thakur (BJP), Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu (TDP), Anand Sharma (Congress), V. Muraleedharan (BJP), and Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin. (ANI)
Economic Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Our aim is to tell Qatar that we have zero tolerance against terrorism: Indian envoy on all-party delegation visit
ANI Our aim is to tell Qatar that we have zero tolerance against terrorism: Indian envoy on all-party delegation visit An all-party Indian parliamentary delegation is visiting Doha to advance Operation Sindoor, with a clear message of zero tolerance for terrorism and a focus on strengthening India-Qatar ties. The delegation began their visit with a floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and held a meeting at the Indian Embassy in Doha with Indian Ambassador to Qatar, Vipul, to discuss issues related to bilateral cooperation and counter-terrorism. Ambassador Vipul underscored the significance of the visit, stating, "Qatar is an important partner for India. Our relations with Qatar are historic and it is based on people-to-people ties. For the last two years, PM Modi visited here, and this year, the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, visited India. Our focus is to build political relations along with trade, investment, energy and issues of aim is to tell Qatar that we have zero tolerance against terrorism and that we will not accept terrosim in any form..." He further elaborated on the agenda, saying, "It is very important to convey our message to all our partners. Yesterday our delegation arrived here, today and tomorrow there are meetings here. These meetings are going to be held with the media, academia, other Qatari degree holders and high officials in the next two days. India and Qatar have very strong relations, and it is very important that we explain our perspective against terrorism to Qatar properly. Even after the Pahalgam terror attack, Qatar issued a statement in which it condemned it and also said that they are against terrorism..." During the visit, the delegation is also engaging with members of the Indian community, meeting with local officials, media, academia, and other stakeholders to reinforce India's zero-tolerance message and build partnerships for trade, investment, and energy cooperation. These efforts are part of a broader diplomatic strategy to highlight India's commitment to fighting terrorism globally and to deepen engagement with strategic partners. After their engagements in Qatar, the delegation will proceed to Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Africa to showcase Operation Sindoor and India's continued stance against terrorism. The delegation is led by NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule and includes Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP), Vikramjit Singh Sahney (AAP), Manish Tewari (Congress), Anurag Singh Thakur (BJP), Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu (TDP), Anand Sharma (Congress), V. Muraleedharan (BJP), and Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin.
