New Delhi: India hailed the verdict of the International Court of Justice in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders across the political spectrum calling it a victory of "truth and justice".
The ICJ ruling that Pakistan must review the death sentence awarded to Jadhav and that it should provide consular access to him comes as a major victory for India.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the "landmark judgement" validated India's position in the case "fully" and asked Pakistan to implement the directive of the ICJ like extending consular access to Jadhav immediately. The MEA added that India will continue to work vigorously for his early release and return to India.
Modi, in a tweet, assured that his government will always work for the safety and welfare of every Indian, adding he was sure Jadhav will get justice.
"We welcome today's verdict. Truth and justice have prevailed. Congratulations to the ICJ for a verdict based on extensive study of facts," the prime minister said.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu expressed his confidence that justice will prevail ultimately.
"I appreciate the government for its relentless efforts to secure justice for Kulbhushan Jadhav and hope that this verdict would serve as a source of solace to the family members," his secretariat tweeted.
The opposition Congress too joined in on the chorus welcoming the verdict but also pointed out that Jadhav's safety is unaddressed and he remains "vulnerable" to another "miscarriage of justice" by Pakistan.
Jadhav, 49, a retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by the Pakistani military court on charges of "espionage and terrorism" after a closed trial in April 2017. His sentencing evoked a sharp reaction in India. India had approached the ICJ against Pakistan military court's decision in May 2017 and the world court stayed his execution then.
The ICJ, by a vote of 15-1, upheld India's claim that Pakistan is in egregious violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963 on several counts in the case.
"I welcome the ICJ verdict. My thoughts tonight are with #KulbhushanJadhav, alone in a prison cell in Pakistan & with his distraught family for whom this verdict brings a rare moment of relief, joy & renewed hope, that he will one day be free to return to his home in India," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said she was "heartened by the Kulbhushan Verdict". "At last justice has prevailed. All of India joins his family in their joy!" she said.
Home Minister and BJP chief Amit Shah termed it a victory of truth which protects human dignity.
"A great day at the @CIJ_ICJ! The verdict is a victory of truth and protects human dignity. It is yet another manifestation of Modi Government's diplomatic efforts and commitment to protecting all Indians. I congratulate Harish Salve Ji for his stupendous efforts through the case," he tweeted.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he spoke to Jadhav's family and applauded their courage. "Satyameva Jayate," he tweeted.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the judgement as a big win for India while former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj hoped it will provide much- needed solace to Jadhav's family.
"The ICJ's verdict on Kulbhushan Jadhav is a big victory for India. The ICJ directing Pakistan to grant consular access to Jadhav and asking them to review the conviction and the sentence is a welcome decision. It is also a big win for PM Narendra Modi's diplomatic initiative," Singh said.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram tweeted saying that justice has been delivered in the true sense of the word.
"ICJ delivers 'justice' in the true sense of that word, upholding human rights, due procedure and the rule of law," senior Congress leader P Chidambaram tweeted. "A 15:1 verdict is actually a unanimous verdict," he said.
Sushma Swaraj termed it a great victory.
"I wholeheartedly welcome the verdict of International Court of Justice in the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav. It is a great victory for India," she tweeted.
She thanked Prime Minister Modi for taking the case to the ICJ and senior advocate Harish Salve for arguing the matter very effectively and successfully.
BJP working president J P Nadda credited Modi's strong foreign policy and diplomacy for the development and expressed confidence that India will be able to ensure justice to Jadhav in the same way it ensured the return of IAF pilot Abhinandan, who was captured by Pakistan after the Balakot strikes.
The Trinamool Congress also hailed the verdict. "The ruling of the ICJ in the #KulbhushanJadhav case is a welcome development. Hope he is reunited with his family soon," the party tweeted.
MEA expects Pakistan to implement the directive of the ICJ immediately.
"We note that the court has directed that Pakistan is under an obligation to inform Jadhav without further delay of his rights and to provide Indian consular officers access to him in accordance with the Vienna Convention," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
The verdict in the case comes nearly five months after the bench led by Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf had reserved its decision on February 21 after hearing oral submissions by India and Pakistan.
Calls to release Kulbhushan Jadhav in Rajya Sabha
In a statement in the Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said Jadhav was innocent of the charges levelled against him.
"No forced confession that too without legal representation and due process will change this fact. We once again call upon Pakistan to release and repatriate him forthwith," Jaishankar said in the Rajya Sabha.
"I am confident that the House will join me in expressing its strongest solidarity with Jadhav's family. They have shown exemplary courage in difficult circumstances.
"I can assure that the government will rigorously continue its efforts for Jadhav's safety and well-being," the Minister added.
All the members in the House across parties expressed their whole-hearted support for Jadhav.
(With inputs from PTI)
