A tussle played out on Wednesday between Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and the Centre on who helped in the release of 13 Indian diamond merchants serving time in a Chinese prison in Shenzhen city for alleged diamond smuggling and money-laundering.
The one upmanship began shortly after the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court announced its verdict after trying the traders on Wednesday. The court announced the deportation of 13 of the 22 diamond traders arrested. The remaining nine have been awarded prison sentences ranging from three to six years and deportation thereafter.
A press release by the Modi government made it appear as though his recent visit to China where he took up their cause did the trick. Not wanting Mr Modi to steal its thunder, the external affairs ministry responded by saying the Indian consular office had provided the merchants all assistance. First off the mark on Wednesday was Mr Modi with his government issuing a detailed statement giving him credit. It said his “diplomatic efforts and statesmanship” during his China visit last month had led to “relief” for the traders.
The statement claimed that immediately after Mr Modi’s visit, the Chinese allowed Indian ambassador to China S. Jaishankar and a senior Indian diplomat to meet the jailed traders.
The MEA, on its part, noted that consular officials had visited the jailed diamond traders more than 10 times and had also facilitated visits by their family members more than five times. It also said India’s consul-general in Guangzhou will be meeting the court authorities on Thursday to get more information on those to be deported immediately. As for those who remain detained, the MEA said all necessary assistance will continue.