New Delhi:
Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav has been sentenced to death by a military court in Pakistan for his alleged involvement in ‘spying’ and ‘subversive activities’. The decision has brought widespread condemnation from various corners in India and the Indian govt. warned Islamabad that it is a case of 'premeditated murder'.
Foreign secretary S Jaishankar summoned Pak High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit and gave a demarche, complaining that there was no credible evidence against Jadhav and he was sentenced through a farcical trial. Whereas the Indian government acknowledged Jadhav as a retired Navy officer, they have denied his links with the govt.
ALSO READ: Kulbhushan Jadhav, alleged Indian spy, sentenced to death by Pakistan military court
Pakistan's Defence minister Khawaja Asif said that the death sentence served to Jadhav for spying should serve as a warning for those plotting against their country. Expressing wrath over Pakistan’s decision to execute an Indian national for “spying”, India on Monday decided not to release a dozen of Pakistani prisoners, who were to be repatriated on Wednesday after completion of their prison term.
BJP MP Subramanian Swamy slammed Pak's decision to execute Jadhav and claimed that India should take strict action against Pakistan and warn it of negative consequences if the order was carried out. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray asked the central government to save Jadhav at all costs and even take 'extreme steps' if required.
READ: Alleged Indian 'spy' Kulbhushan Jadhav sentenced to death: All you need to know about him
Dalbir Kaur, the sister of Sarabjit Singh, who died in a Pakistan jail in 2013, urged the Centre, saying that India should approach the International Court of Justice and put all effort to stop death sentence awarded to Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistani establishment.
"Our government should take appropriate steps. They should appeal in the international court of justice and seek stay," Kaur told over phone while reacting on the Pakistan army court's verdict.
They did the same with my brother, it didn't come to me as a surprise: Dalbir Kaur (Sarabjit's sister) on Kulbhushan Jadhav. pic.twitter.com/BHhI4WIzd7
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 10, 2017
Congress leader Manish Tewari too criticised Pak's decision while asking Indian govt. to bring him back.
KULBHUSHAN Jadhav has been sentenced to death by Kangroo Proceedings in Pakistan that no one even knows ever took placeGOI must get him back
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) April 10, 2017
Former RAW chief AS Dulat slammed Pak while claiming that any kind of decision can be taken in Pakistan as the country had once hanged once of their own Prime Ministers in the past.
Anything is possible in Pak, after all they've hanged one of their Prime Ministers in past: AS Dulat, former RAW Chief on Kulbhushan Jadhav pic.twitter.com/vtZuALDeKs
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 10, 2017
Kulbhushan Jadhav had allegedly entered Balochistan from Iran, following which he was reportedly arrested. Pakistan has accused Jadhav of being a "R&AW (Research and Analysis Wing) agent” and planning "subversive activities" in the country. On the other hand, Indian government believed that he was picked up from Iran.
