The ministry of external affairs has expres­sed its shock over the verdict by a court in Qatar that has handed the death penalty to eight Indians who had formerly served in the navy. It is not as if the Narendra Modi government had been in the dark about the developments. But what is clear is that this poses a stern diplomatic challenge to Mr Modi’s government that is seeking to return to office for another term. Yet, all this diplomatic capital has not translated into Qatar being amenable to New Delhi’s plea for leniency — so far. Mr Modi’s poor record in terms of discriminating against minorities at home may be a relevant factor as well.

Source: The Telegraph October 30, 2023 13:56 UTC