Fighting for Kulbhushan Jadhav, how Shashi Tharoor became the face of united India against Pakistan

It was heartening to see that political leaders from all parties stood together to put in all efforts to save Kulbhushan Jadhav

By: News Desk |
April 11, 2017 5:09 pm

In a strongly worded statement, both Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj condemned Pakistan’s decision to sentence Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to death. Swaraj said that if the decision is executed by Pakistan, it will be a premeditated murder. Rajnath also stated that Jadhav was not a spy as he carried a valid Indian visa.

While the Indian government was firm in its approach in dealing with Pakistan, what was heartening to see was that political leaders from across the parties stood together with the Narendra Modi government to put in all efforts to save Kulbhushan Jadhav.

In fact, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor helped the government draft a statement against Pakistan on Jadhav’s death sentence. The statement is likely to vetted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other major parties and may be moved as a resolution in the Lok Sabha.

Also read: No evidence of any wrong doing against ‘innocent kidnapped Indian’ Kulbhushan Jadhav, says Sushma Swaraj

After giving her statement in the House, Swaraj walked up to Tharoor urging him to help the government in drafting the resolution. Admitting that the matter affects all, Tharoor agreed to help the government.

It is not the first time that the Thiruvananthapuram MP is helping the government draft a statement. In 2016 also, he had assisted the government in drafting a statement against Pakistan for setting 2008 Mumbai terror attack plotter Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi free.

Apart from Tharoor, other politicians like senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad also stood like a united India against Pakistan. While expressing outrage over Pakistan’s decision, Azad said that the Indian government should provide Jadhav with the best of the lawyers to ensure that he comes back safely and truth prevails.

Also Read: Kulbhushan Jadhav not a spy, he had valid Indian visa, says Rajnath Singh

Appreciating Azad’s statement, Swaraj said that the government will not only ensure that Jadhav is provided with the best of lawyers in the Supreme Court of Pakistan but will also take it up with the President of Pakistan.

Seeking a stronger reply from India, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over why he was silent over the issue. “Without an invitation, you can attend a marriage, but you cannot meet him or talk to him on the issue,” Kharge said attacking the PM for travelling to Lahore to attend the marriage of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s grand daughter.

Also Read: If Modi can attend wedding at Nawaz Sharif’s home, why can’t he speak to Pak on Kulbhushan Jadhav, says Congress

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tried to calm the said nerves in the House urging people not to have a spat on the issue. “We all are equally concerned about the fate of Jadhav,” Mahajan said.

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi also asked the government to use its influence for the release of the Indian citizen.

A Pakistan court had on Monday sentenced Jadhav to death after declaring him a “spy”. He was allegedly arrested in March 2016 for his alleged involvement in “espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan,” according to a statement released by the Pakistan armed forces.