PM Narendra Modi speaks to Sushma Swaraj, expresses 'satisfaction' over ICJ order

NEW DELHI: Senior ministers of the Narendra Modi government and BJP president Amit shah were effusive in their praise for external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj for overseeing the government’s efforts to secure interim relief for Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav from the International court of Justice (ICJ) .

Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and subversive activities. Commending the Modi government, especially Swaraj, Shah tweeted on Thursday: "India under the decisive leadership of PM Shri @NarendraModi stands firmly for the safety of each and every citizen of our country." On Swaraj, he said: "This is a result of tireless efforts of our MEA Smt @SushmaSwaraj and her team, that handled the matter proactively."

India under the decisive leadership of PM Shri @NarendraModi stands firmly for the safety of each and every citizen of our country.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 18, 2017

Government insiders said PM Modi spoke to Swaraj after the verdict and "expressed satisfaction" over the ICJ order and efforts of the Indian legal team at The Hague. Subsequent to PM’s talk with Swaraj, top figures in the ruling establishment lined up to praise the external affairs minister.

"Congratulations to EAM Smt. @SushmaSwaraj ji and the entire Hague team," defence minister Arun Jaitley posted on twitter.

Congratulations to EAM Smt. @SushmaSwaraj ji and the entire Hague team

— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) May 18, 2017

"#ICJ verdict endorses the relevance and necessity of procedural and substantive fairness which was denied by Pakistan," he added. "The EAM Smt @SushmaSwaraj has done a commendable job.

#ICJ verdict endorses the relevance and necessity of procedural and substantive fairness which was denied by Pakistan

— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) May 18, 2017

The govt led by PM Shri @ narendramodi will go to any extent to save #kulbhushanjadhav," home minister Rajnath Singh said.

"Compliment effor ts of @Sushma Swarajji for taking right initiatives in #KulbhushanJadhav case that has led to this major victory & justice," I&B minister Venkaiah Naidu said.

Compliment efforts of @SushmaSwaraj ji for taking right initiatives in #KulbhushanJadhav case that has led to this major victory & justice

— M Venkaiah Naidu (@MVenkaiahNaidu) May 18, 2017

Soon after the Pakistani military court had awarded capital punishment to Jadhav in April, leaders cutting across party lines had demanded that the government must take every possible step to secure justice for Jadhav. "This is a matter of the entire nation. I appeal to the government to appoint a competent lawyer to fight his case in Pakistan’s Supreme Court. So that his case is won in the apex court," Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, had said during the budget session.

It was then that Sushma Swaraj assured Azad and Parliament that the Modi government will leave no stone unturned to save Jadhav. "The government and people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations," Swaraj had said, adding: "I would caution the Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter."