Kulbhushan's meeting with mother and wife turned into propaganda tool, Pakistan betrayed us : Sushma Swaraj in RS

Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha, Swaraj also accused Pakistan of betraying India as it put the family's security at risk despite assurances.

" It was nothing like a humanitarian gesture. Human rights of the family members were violated again and again and an environment of fear was created for them," the Minister said.

Swaraj said while taking Jadhav's mother and wife to the meeting place, Pakistani authorities exposed them to a barrage by the local media with most unsavoury questions being directed at them.

She said the meeting started without any envoy on India's part and " no humanity and no compassion was showed to Jadhav’s mother and wife."

Both mother and wife were forced to change clothes and forced to wear salwar-kurta. Bindi, bangles and mangalsutras of both the women were removed before meeting Jadhav. "Both the married women were made to like widows," Swaraj added.

Even after repeated attempts by Kulbhushan Jadhav's wife, her shoes  returned. "Pakistan says there was a camera or a recorder in the shoes, nothing can be more absurd than this as she traveled in two flights with those shoes on. It is an absurdity beyond measure," Swaraj said.

She informed the House that Jadhav was forced to speak in English or French with her mother and wife and whenever there was an attempt to speak Marathi, their mother tongue, either the intercom was switched off or the Pakistani officials present there interrupted.

"A meeting of a mother with her son and  a wife with her husband was turned into a propaganda tool by Pakistan," Swaraj said.

The entire House unanimously criticised Pakistan’s ill-treatment of Kulbhushan Jadhav.

Representatives  from various parties registered their condemnation of the treatment meted out to Kulbhushan Jadhav’s family.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said, Pakistan does not know how to treat the citizens of another country.

"Misbehaviour of Pakistan with wife and mother of Kulbhushan Jadhav was misbehavior with all Indians. Regardless of political differences, when it comes to nation’s dignity & another country misbehaves with our mothers and sisters, it will not be tolerated,”  he said.

On Wednesday, the opposition raised an uproar in both the House of Parliament over the Kulbhushan Jadhav issue and Swaraj promised to make a statement.

The meeting between Jadhav and his wife and mother took place on December 25. Pictures taken during the meeting  were released by Pakistan in which  Jadhav was seen sitting behind a glass screen while his mother and wife sat on the other side.

They spoke through intercom  for about 40 minutes.

India has  denounced Pakistan over the treatment of the family of  Jadhav, sentenced to death by a Pakistan court  for  alleged spying, saying they had been harassed during a visit.

India said the meeting between Jadhav and his wife and mother in the jail was held in an “intimidating atmosphere” and questioned why the shoes of his wife were kept back even after the meeting.

Jadhav, who was captured in March last year, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged spying.

New Delhi maintains Jadhav is innocent, and it won an injunction from the World Court to delay his execution, arguing he was denied diplomatic assistance during his trial by a military court.