Modi Citizen-Centric Foreign Policy

The country hails the commutation of the death sentence of 8 Indian

Navy Veterans as a victory for PM Modi's Citizen-centric foreign
policy and diplomatic initiatives. It is not the first time the Prime
Minister has used his excellent personal repo with global leaders to
ensure all support Indians living abroad get. Unlike the PMs in the
past, there were many instances when PM Modi went to the last mile
to provide all possible help to Indian citizens held in foreign
countries.
Narendra Modi played a significant role in the return of diamond
traders arrested in China1
The 22 traders were arrested in Shenzhen, China, in January 2010 and
charged with smuggling diamonds worth $ 7.3 million. They were
accused of sourcing at least 14,000 carats of diamonds illegally from
Hong Kong for sale in the Chinese market. Shenzhen, known for its
diamond processing units, is a city in China's Guangdong province
close to Hong Kong.
In his visit to China, Narendra Modi, then Chief Minister of Gujarat,
raised the issue with top Chinese leadership and requested expediting
their trial. Thirteen of the 22 Indian diamond merchants and workers
languishing in Chinese jails for 23 months returned home after a
verdict just a month after Modiji visited China.
Narendra Bhai Modi quickly thanked China for acting on his request
to speed up the judicial process for the diamond traders. This gesture
of Modiji offered hope to the public in China for a more humanitarian
approach to addressing the situation of a Chinese man trapped in India
for 50 years until his release in 2017.

1
Saibal Dasgupta and Melvyn Thomas, “China Frees 13 Indians from Jail, Narendra Modi Claims Credit,” The
Economic Times, December 8, 2011, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/china-
frees-13-indians-from-jail-narendra-modi-claims-credit/articleshow/11029298.cms.
Chinese man goes home after 50 years trapped in India2
Wang, a Chinese army surveyor, inadvertently crossed the border in
1963 following the Sino-Indian War. Despite spending seven years in
prison, he was not granted an exit visa by the then Congress
government, leading to decades of legal logjams and hardship in
India. Wang's story reflects deficiencies and a lack of interest from
various Congress governments in addressing his situation. He faced
poverty, legal ambiguity, and unsuccessful attempts to start a business
due to corruption and lack of rights.
Criticism can be directed at past Congress governments for their
handling of Wang's case, emphasizing the need for a more
compassionate and efficient resolution to humanitarian issues arising
from border disputes. The bureaucratic hurdles, lack of citizenship,
and poverty endured by Wang highlight systemic flaws that were
perpetuated by Congress governments, indifferent to human
sufferings.
However, the Modi government's intervention finally allowed Wang
to return home in 2017. The current government's role in granting
Wang the necessary documents to leave India, along with passports
for his family, is commendable. Wang's return to China was met with
celebration and admiration for the Modi government.

Kulbhushan Jadhav case3

In March 2016, Kulbushan Jadhav was arrested by Pakistan, and the
military establishments and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan
accused Jadhav of being a spy, having crossed over from Iran and was
caught in Balochistan in Southern Pakistan. Kulbhushan Jadhav was
sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of
espionage and terrorism in April 2017.

2
“Chinese Man Trapped in India for 50 Years Finally Returns Home,” The Independent, February 12, 2017,
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-man-trapped-india-goes-home-wang-qi-tirodi-
xianjing-sino-indian-war-people-army-a7576421.html.
3
The Hindu Net Desk, “Kulbhushan Jadhav Case: A Timeline,” The Hindu, July 16, 2019, sec. India,
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kulbhushan-jadhav-case-a-timeline/article28492569.ece.
Modi government approached the ICJ against Pakistan for denial of
consular access (Vienna Convention) to Jadhav and challenging the
death sentence. ICJ ruled in July 2019 that Pakistan must undertake
an "effective review and reconsideration" of the conviction and
sentence of Jadhav and also grant consular access to India without
further delay. It also asked Pakistan to provide a proper forum for
appeal against the sentence given to Jadhav by the military court.
Effective review and reconsideration is a phrase different from
'review' as one understands in a domestic course. It includes giving
consular access and helping Jadav in preparing his defence. It means
that Pakistan has to disclose the charges and evidence, which has been
opaque until now. Pakistan would also have to disclose the
circumstances in which the military extracted Jadhav's confession. It
implies that Jadhav can defend whichever forum or court hears his
case.
It is the Modi government's efforts that Pakistan was forced to allow
an Indian diplomat to meet Jadhav and provide "unimpeded" and
"uninterrupted" consular access.

MV Anastasia and MV Jag Anand: 39 Indian Sailors Rescue4

The 39 sailors were part of the crew of MV Jag Anand and MV
Anastasia, which were carrying Australian coal and weren't allowed to
discharge their cargo at Chinese ports. The situation is believed to be
the outcome of the China-Australia trade dispute.
Modi government and the Indian mission in Beijing continuously
pursued the matter with China so that the two vessels could carry out
a crew change and the Indian seafarers could be brought home after
more than seven months.

4
Scroll Staff, “India Asks China to Urgently Help 39 Sailors Stranded on Two Ships for Months,” Scroll.in, January
1, 2021, https://scroll.in/latest/982912/india-asks-china-to-urgently-help-39-sailors-stranded-on-two-ships-for-
months.
Kerala woman allowed to travel to Yemen to save daughter on
death row5
Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse, was sentenced to death in Yemen for
the murder of Talal Abdo Mahdi. Nimisha, originally from Kerala,
faced challenges in Yemen, including threats from Mahdi, who had
initially promised to help her start a clinic. In 2017, she allegedly
injected Mahdi with sedatives in an attempt to retrieve her passport,
leading to his death and her subsequent arrest and death sentence.
Nimisha Priya's family has been actively seeking justice since 2018.
Her mother, despite a travel ban for Indian nationals, sought
permission to travel to Yemen to negotiate "blood money" for her
daughter's release. Blood money refers to compensation an offender
or their family pays to the victim's relatives. In November 2023, the
Modi government not only relaxed its 2017 notification, which barred
Indian passport holders from travelling to Yemen but is aware of the
situation and is providing consular assistance to the family as needed.
In a notification issued recently, the Modi government has taken a
humanitarian view and believes that the travel ban may be relaxed and
Indian nationals may be allowed to travel to Yemen for specific
reasons and durations.
Indians trapped in fake IT job racket rescued from Myanmar6
Modi government rescued citizens from fake job schemes in
Myanmar, where individuals were enticed with false promises of
lucrative IT jobs. Similar job rackets were discovered in Laos and
Cambodia. Indian embassies in Myanmar and Thailand were in touch
with some 50 Indians who sought help. 32 Indians were rescued from
Myanmar under harsh working conditions. Indian embassies are in
contact with citizens seeking help, with some sources suggesting up to
300 workers may have been illegally taken to Myanmar for scams.

5
“Nimisha Priya: All about Indian Nurse Sentenced to Death in Yemen,” NDTV.com, November 17, 2023,
https://www.ndtv.com/people/nimisha-priya-all-about-indian-nurse-sentenced-to-death-in-yemen-4581645.
6
“13 Indians Trapped in Fake IT Job Racket Rescued from Myanmar, Reach Tamil Nadu,” Hindustan Times,
October 5, 2022, https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/13-indians-trapped-in-fake-it-job-racket-
rescued-from-myanmar-reach-tamil-nadu-101664964277636.html.
Moreover, to ensure that Indian citizens do not fall into fake job
scams, the Modi government has been proactive and is issuing an
advisory cautioning against unscrupulous elements offering jobs.
Italian Marines Case7
Modi government successfully led the fight for justice for the Kerala
Fishermen's entitlement to compensation. It took the matter to the
international tribunal, which accepted India's claim that the Italian
marines on board "Enrica Lexie" had violated the freedom of
navigation rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea (UNCLOS) by shooting at the fishing boat "St. Antony" and
should pay compensation to the victim's families, the boat owner and
crew members.
Uzma Ahmad succesfull return from Pakistan8
Uzma Ahmed was forced to marry a Pakistani at gunpoint.
Uzma Ahmad met Tahir Ali, a Pakistani citizen in Malaysia.
She travelled to his home in the neighbouring country. What
followed was a wedding at gunpoint, sexual assaults, and a
subsequent escape to the Indian High Commission. Then PM
Modi External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Ji personally
looked to the grave concern to the life of 'Hindustan Ki Beti'
and ensured that Indian officials supported Uzma in her legal
battle to return.
Although for Uzma, "It's easy to go to Pakistan but tough to
return. Pakistan is a well of death," for PM Modi and his
Cabinet, it is of utmost importance to ensure that no Indian
citizen is left out on foreign soil isolated.
These are some of the instances where PM Modi and his
government took steps to bring back home Indians abroad.
7
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/italian-marines-case-india-loses-jurisdiction/article31973247.ece
8
“The Story of How Sushma Swaraj Helped Uzma Ahmad Return from Pakistan,” Hindustan Times, May 29,
2017, https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/the-story-of-how-sushma-swaraj-helped-uzma-ahmad-
escape-from-pakistan/story-YavUtBgrGCYM2b3TfbwnOI.html.
However, his government has carried out a number of rescue
operations and missions since 2014 [Annexure 1]

Annexure 1
Ukraine, 2014
 India evacuated around 1,000 students in June 2014 after a war
broke out between Ukraine and Russia9.

Operation Raahat, 2015

 India evacuated 6,710 persons from Yemen, including 4,748
Indians and 1,962 foreign nationals.
 Under Operation 'Raahat', the evacuation was done by sea from
the port of Aden and by air with the help of the Indian Air Force
and Air India.

Iraq & Libya – 2015

 Indian Embassy in Baghdad facilitated the return of over 7,000
Indian nationals from war-torn Iraq by providing them with
travel documents and air tickets.
 Up to 3,600 Indians were also evacuated from Libya through
land, air and sea, with help from neighbouring countries10.

Operation Maitri, 2015

 Operation Maitri was launched in 2015 in the aftermath of the
Nepal earthquake.
 Around 5,000 Indians were rescued from Nepal during the
earthquake
 The Indian Army also evacuated 170 foreign nationals from the
US, the UK, Russia and Germany11.
9
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/final-batch-of-indians-leave-violence-hit-
lugansk-in-ukraine/articleshow/36055385.cms?from=mdr
10
https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=133841
11
https://www.outlookindia.com/national/operation-ganga-to-vande-bharat-india-s-biggest-evacuation-
missions-in-recent-past--news-184730
Operation Sankat Mochan, 2016
 153 Indians rescued from South Sudan
 They were evacuated on board two C-17 aircraft from Juba,
South Sudan, during a ceasefire in the fighting12.

Wuhan Evacuation, 2020

 In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, Wuhan City in the
Hubei province of China emerged as the epicentre, with
hundreds of Indians stuck in the city.
 654 Indians brought back from Wuhan

Operation Samudra Setu, 2020

 Indian Naval Ships Jalashwa, Airavat, Shardul and Magar
participated in this operation, which lasted over 55 days and
covered 23,000km by sea.
 The ships successfully brought 3,992 Indians back to the
country from Sri Lanka, Maldives, and the port of Bandar Abbas
in Iran13.

Vande Bharat Mission

 During the global pandemic, the government undertook the
Vande Bharat Mission to bring home Indian nationals stranded
overseas and also facilitated passengers' travel from India to
various parts of the world.
 A total of 3.2 crore people were rescued through this mission.

Operation Devi Shakti, 2021

 Under this high-risk operation, a total of 669 people were
evacuated from Afghanistan.

12

https://www.mea.gov.in/rajya-sabha.htm?dtl/27308/question+no2820+operation+sankat+mochan+to+rescue
+indians+in+sudan
13
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1637314
  This comprised 448 Indians and 206 Afghans, including
members of the Afghan Hindu/Sikh minority community.

Operation Ganga, 2022

 The Ukraine-Russia war left Indians stranded in Ukraine. India
evacuated not just Indian citizens but other nationals through
Operation Ganga.
 Indian government coordinated with countries adjoining
Ukraine, viz. Romania, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia will
execute the evacuation.
 Around 22,500 Indian nationals returned from Ukraine to India
between February 1 and March 11, 2022.

Operation Kaveri, 2023

 Around 4,000 Indians evacuated from conflict-torn Sudan

Operation Ajay, 2023

 A total of four flights have successfully evacuated 918 Indian
nationals from Israel.
Operation Dost,2023
The Indian government launched Operation Dost rescue operation to
assist Syria and Turkey following a violent earthquake that devastated
both countries on February 6, 2023. Operation Dost was launched to
provide necessary support in search and rescue (SAR) efforts and
medical assistance. This has involved a whole-of-government
approach with coordination among various agencies. This swift
response led to the first C-17 IAF aircraft with a specialized SAR
team, leaving for Türkiye within hours of receiving a request for
assistance.