Save Kulbhushan Jadhav campaign grows stronger on and off Parliament

From political parties to well-wishers, India joins hands to save Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been awarded death sentence by Pakistan.

New Delhi, April 11: A day after the Pakistani government awarded death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav, on Tuesday, politicians, friends and well-wishers of the India national, currently languishing in a Pakistani jail, have joined hands to save him from the gallows.

The Congress on Tuesday raised the issue of death sentence awarded to Jadhav by Pakistan in Lok Sabha. "If Jadhav is hanged to death, then it would be a cold-blooded murder. (Agar use faansi hoti hai toh socha samjha murder hum usey kahenge)," said Mallikarjun Kharge of Congress in Lok Sabha.

Kharge added," If Jadhav could not be saved then it would be a failure of the Centre. (Agar usey bacha nahi paaye toh ye sarkaar ki kamzori hogi)."

On behalf of the Centre, Union Minister Ananth Kumar said in Lok Sabha that the entire house is with Jadhav and Home Minister Rajnath Singh would reply on the issue.

Meanwhile, Jadhav's friends in Mumbai have started a campaign to bring him safely back to home. "We have started a campaign for release of Jadhav. The government of India needs to toughen its stand and push Pakistan to change its decision," T Pawar, a friend of Jadhav, told ANI.

A protest was staged near Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi against death sentence given to Jadhav on Tuesday. "Jadhav had a valid Indian visa, how can he be a spy? Consular access also been denied," Home Minister Singh said in Lok Sabha. He added, "The Indian Government will do whatever possible for Jadhav, want to assure all that justice will be done with him."

Islamabad claims that Jadhav, who is currently lodged in a Pakistani jail, is an Indian spy. Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for espionage and engaging in sabotage against Pakistan on Monday.

A former Indian Navy officer, Jadhav was allegedly arrested by Pakistani authorities in Balochistan in 2016 after he entered the country from Iran. After taking premature retirement from the Navy, he set up a business in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday political parties like the Shiv Sena, the Congress and the Janata Dal United asked the Centre to take stringent action against the neighbouring country for punishing an innocent Indian national.

Reports say, residents of Nagpur, Maharashtra, staged a protest against Pakistan for pronouncing death penalty to Jadhav.

OneIndia News