Prime Minister NarendraModi on Wednesday welcomed the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) verdict to put on hold the death sentence of KulbhushanJadhav in an alleged espionage case, saying “truth and justice” have prevailed.
“We welcome today’s verdict in the ICJ. Truth andjustice have prevailed. Congratulations to the ICJ for a verdict based onextensive study of facts. I am sure KulbhushanJadhav will get justice. Ourgovernment will always work for the safety and welfare of every Indian,”Modi tweeted.
Jadhav, an Indian naval officer, was sentenced to death by aPakistani military court in April 2017 for alleged espionage. India hadapproached the ICJ to stay the execution.
The Prime Minister’s remarks came soon after the ICJ put onhold the death sentence of Jadhav. The world court also directed Pakistan togrant consular access to Jadhav, while holding that it had “breached”the Vienna Convention in this regard by denying him this right. In November2008, India and Pakistan inked a bilateral agreement on consular access totheir prisoners in each others’ countries.
WE EXPECT PAK TO IMPLEMENT ICJ VERDICT IMMEDIATELY: MEA
Meanwhile, Ministry of external Affairs Wednesday welcomed the verdict of theInternational Court of Justice (ICJ) asking Pakistan to review the deathsentence for Indian national KulbhushanJadhav and granting consular access tohim.
The External AffairsMinistry said the “landmark judgement” validated India’s position onthe matter “fully” and asked Pakistan to implement the directive ofthe ICJ immediately.
Soon after the ICJ delivered its verdict in the high-profilecase, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to Jadhav’s family andapplauded their courage.
“We welcome the judgement delivered just now by theInternational Court of Justice in The Hague in favour of India in the caserelating to KulbhushanJadhav,” Kumar said.
“We also appreciate the direction by the InternationalCourt of Justice that Pakistan should review and reconsider the conviction andsentence given to Jadhav by the Pakistani military court,” the MEAspokesperson said.
“We note that the court has directed that Pakistan isunder an obligation to inform Jadhav without further delay of his rights and toprovide Indian consular officers access to him in accordance with the ViennaConvention,” he added.
The MEA official said India expected Pakistan to implementthe directive of the ICJ immediately.
“This landmark judgement validates India’s position onthis matter fully,” the MEA said.
The verdict in the case comes nearly five months after thebench led by Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf had reserved its decision on February21 after hearing oral submissions by India and Pakistan.
INDIA HAILS ICJ VERDICT
India Wednesday hailed the verdict of the InternationalCourt of Justice in the KulbhushanJadhav case with leaders across the politicalspectrum calling it a victory of “truth and justice”.
Union Home Minister and BJP chief Amit Shah termed it avictory of truth which protects human dignity.
“A great day at the @CIJ_ICJ! The verdict is a victoryof truth and protects human dignity. It is yet another manifestation of ModiGovernment’s diplomatic efforts and commitment to protect all Indians. Icongratulate Harish Salve ji for his stupendous efforts through the case,”he tweeted.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the judgement as abig win for India while former external affairs minister SushmaSwaraj hoped itwill provide much- needed solace to Jadhav’s family. “The ICJ’s verdict onKulbhushanJadhav is big victory for India. The ICJ directing Pakistan to grantconsular access to Jadhav and asking them to review the conviction and thesentence is a welcome decision. It is also a big win for PM NarendraModi’sdiplomatic initiative,” Singh said.
Joining the ruling party leaders in welcoming the verdict,Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hoped Jadhav returns to India soon.
“I welcome the ICJ verdict. My thoughts tonight arewith #KulbhushanJadhav , alone in a prison cell in Pakistan & with his distraughtfamily for whom this verdict brings a rare moment of relief, joy & renewedhope, that he will one day be free to return to his home in India,” hetweeted.
Party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi said justice has atlast prevailed and all of India joined Jadhav’s family in their joy.
SushmaSwaraj termed it a great victory. “Iwholeheartedly welcome the verdict of International Court of Justice in thecase of KulbhushanJadhav. It is a great victory for India,” she tweeted.
She thanked Prime Minister Modi for taking the case to theICJ and senior advocate Harish Salve for arguing the matter very effectivelyand successfully.
BJP working president J P Nadda credited Modi’s strongforeign policy and diplomacy for the development and expressed confidence thatIndia will be able to ensure justice to Jadhav in a same way it ensured thereturn of IAF pilot Abhinandan, who was captured by Pakistan after the Balakotstrikes.
Congress chief spokesperson RandeepSurjewala in a series oftweets said his party welcomes the ICJ decision of holding Pakistan to be instark violation of the Vienna Convention and staying the illegally orderedexecution of Jadhav.
He, however added, “Every Indian’s concern for safety&well being of KulbhushanJadav remains unaddressed! ICJ has authorisedrogue Pakistan to — 1. Review and reconsider Jadhav’s case; 2. In a ‘manner’and ‘forum’ of their choosing…Leaves Jadhav vulnerable to another miscarriageof justice.”
Surjewala also said that the refusal by the ICJ to allowreturn of Jadhav to India is “unnerving”.The Trinamool Congress also hailed the verdict.”The ruling of the ICJ in the #KulbhushanJadhav case is a welcomedevelopment. Hope he is reunited with his family soon,” the partytweeted.