Former Indian Navy Commander Purnendu Tiwari remains stranded abroad due to ongoing delays in the issuance of his travel documents, following his release from detention in Qatar earlier this year. Tiwari is the last of eight Indian Navy veterans, who received a collective pardon from Qatari authorities in February, yet he has not been able to return to India. This situation has caused significant distress to Tiwari and his family, who have been tirelessly reaching out for assistance.
In their efforts to expedite the process, Tiwari’s relatives have contacted various officials, including former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. Mahajan sent a letter to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh last week, urging prompt action to resolve the travel document delays. In her correspondence dated 26 November, she recognized the Ministry of External Affairs’ substantial efforts, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, in securing the veterans’ release but highlighted the urgent need to address Tiwari’s situation.
Mahajan pointed out that the other seven veterans have returned to India, exacerbating the hardship faced by Tiwari and his family. She describes the ongoing delays as a source of “undue hardship and distress” and appealed for intervention from both ministers to facilitate Tiwari’s return.
The family of Commander Tiwari has voiced their concern over the prolonged wait. A family member disclosed that multiple petitions have been submitted to government officials, yet a resolution remains elusive. “It is unduly long for the lone Navy veteran, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, to continue suffering while his peers returned to India on 12 February,” the family member remarked. They accused the Ministry of External Affairs of making a significant mistake by leaving Tiwari behind in Doha while repatriating the others.
The family is increasingly anxious, with a sense of urgency growing as they receive no clear timeline for Tiwari’s return. Tiwari’s elderly mother, now 86 years old, has expressed deep concern about the possibility of never seeing her son again. The prolonged separation has been emotionally taxing for the family, prompting calls for the government to take decisive action.
While the family has expressed gratitude for the initial efforts that led to the release of the veterans, they are now pleading for consistent follow-through and assistance. In their appeal, they highlighted the distress caused by vague responses from the Ministry of External Affairs, which has been stating for months that Tiwari will return, but without specifying when. “Please do something, for God’s sake. We are just getting the same response from the MEA for months now, stating he will be back. But when? How long are we supposed to wait like this?” they urged, underscoring the urgent need for resolution in this distressing situation.
