‘Won’t rest till we get him back home’
Jadhav’s friends, who have led a campaign for his release, say the world court’s ruling has boosted their morale
MUMBAI: Ecstatic cries of Vande Mataram echoed in Lower Parel in Mumbai, as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) stayed the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged espionage.
Friends of Jadhav, who grew up in Parel and whose family stays in Powai, also burst firecrackers. Earlier in the day, people across Mumbai had held pujas to pray for a favourable verdict in the case.
Tulsidas Pawar, Jadhav’s friend, said, ”We knew the verdict would be in our favour. We are happy that the government did not let us down. I am grateful to our countrymen and all those who supported our fight against the execution. We are with the Jadhav family and will not rest until we get him (Kulbhushan Jadhav) back home.”
Jadhav’s childhood friends in the city had started a campaign to put forward his case. They are meeting prominent state and national politicians to keep the pressure on the government.
Pawar told Hindustan Times that they had spoken to Jadhav’s father Sudhir a few days ago and he told them to continue with their campaign.
Jadhav’s friends have termed the ICJ’s verdict a “boost to their morale”. “The International Court of Justice’s decision has boosted our morale. We are happy. Our enthusiasm has increased. We will now try and intensify our efforts to free Jadhav . We plan to meet more officials of the Indian government to highlight his plight ,” Pawar said.
Pawar said the efforts taken by the Indian government to expose how Pakistan did not have any evidence against Jadhav were commendable.
“We are thankful to the government. They need to put more pressure on Pakistan. The International Court of Justice’s decision is a slap on their face,” Pawar said.
Pakistan claims that 46-yearold Jadhav was arrested in March last year in the restive Balochistan province.
Islamabad later released Jad- hav’s ”confessional” video statement and accused him of being a RAW officer, who was supporting Baloch rebels.
In April, a Pakistani military court sentenced Jadhav to death for being an alleged spy.
India has contended he was kidnapped from the Iranian port of Chabahar and his secret trial was a “farce”.