Government urged to get Kulbhushan Jadhav back to the country

Cutting across party lines, members in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday condemned Pakistan's treatment of the mother and wife of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, after which External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said she will make a statement on the issue on Thursday.

Kulbhushan Jadhav was convicted and sentenced to death by Pakistan in April for alleged spying and terrorism related cases. He sought clemency earlier this year. Jadhav met his mother and wife in Islamabad on Monday, their first meeting since his arrest from Balochistan last year on charges of espionage and terrorism.

The Lower House also saw some members raising slogans against Pakistan. As soon as the House met, some members from the treasury benches started shouting "Pakistan Murdabad" (Down with Pakistan). Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said all parties were together on this issue, and urged the government to get Jadhav back to the country.

Amid protests on other issues, member of Shiv Sena, Arvind Sawant raised the issue and slammed Pakistan's action.

"The way Pakistan misbehaved with Kulbhushan Jadhav's family is condemnable... We should not stay quiet on the issue till Jadhav is brought back home," he said.

Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy supported him, saying making a Hindu woman take off her bangles, mangalsutra and bindi should be condemned.

Sushma Swaraj, who was present in the House, told the members that she will make a statement on the issue on Thursday.

Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer on death row on charges of spying and terrorism, met his mother and wife on Monday after 22 months, since his arrest by Pakistan.

Before being let in for meeting Jadhav at the Foreign Office building in Islamabad, Pakistani authorities made his wife and mother remove their mangalsutra, bangles and bindi and also made them change their attire, India said on Tuesday.

"We can't expect anything better from Pakistan. The way Kulbhushan Jadhav's mother and wife were treated was shameful," Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said.

Earlier, MEA on Tuesday revealed details of the Christmas day meeting of Jadhav with his wife and his mother. The ministry detailed the hours of humiliation faced by Avanti Jadhav and Chetankul Jadhav, the mother and wife, respectively, of Jadhav.

Rejecting India’s claim that Kulbhushan Jadhav’s family was harassed during their meeting with the ‘spy’, the Foreign Office said Jadhav’s wife was asked to take off her shoes as they appeared suspicious, The Express Tribune reported.

“The Indian baseless allegations and twists that come 24 hours later, about the visit of the wife and mother of Commander Jadhav are categorically rejected,” the report quoted a statement on Tuesday night.

New Delhi said Pakistan disrespected the cultural and religious sensibilities of Jadhav’s family, alleging they were asked to change their clothes, and that his wife was ordered to remove her “mangal sutra” — a necklace worn by married Hindu women.

Foreign Office, according to Express News, said soles of the wife’s shoes were unusually thick. Therefore, she was provided with another pair of footwear. “Her jewellery and other items were returned to her, however, the shoes have been sent to a laboratory for examination.”

An Indian diplomat was present during the meeting, which lasted 40 minutes, but he was not allowed to talk to the prisoner or listen to the conversation with his family, according to the report.

The Foreign Office, according to report, said it did not wish to indulge in a meaningless battle of words with India. “Our openness and transparency belies these allegations,” it said. “If Indian concerns were serious, the guests or the Indian DHC should have raised them during the visit, with the media, which was readily available, but at a safe distance, as requested by India.”

The statement said Jadhav’s mother publicly thanked Pakistan for the humanitarian gesture and “nothing more needs to be said”.

(With IANS inputs)