External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday trashed an India Today report that had alleged that she had requested Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s help in drafting a resolution condemning Kulbhushan Jadhav’s death sentence. The resolution is supposed to be taken up in both the Houses of the Parliament.
Swaraj called the story a “mischievously planted” one. She tweeted:
The news was completely false and mischievously planted in the media. https://t.co/saNGa6xB3c
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 12, 2017
On 11 April (Yesterday) India Today website had reported the story with the headline:
‘At Sushma Swaraj’s request, Shashi Tharoor to help Modi government draft statement on Kulbhushan Jadhav’
After Swaraj pointed out, the website quickly changed the headline to:
‘Shashi Tharoor likely to help Modi government draft statement on Kulbhushan Jadhav’.
Stating that there is no dearth of talent in MEA, Swaraj had earlier tweeted:
There is no dearth of talent in my ministry. I have the assistance of very able Secretaries. https://t.co/JH1wVAczLz
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 11, 2017
The Parliament, had earlier unanimously condemned the death sentence handed down to Kulbhushan Jadhav by a Pakistani military court. Jadhav, 46, a former Indian Navy officer, has been sentenced to death by a military court in Pakistan on the charges of “espionage and sabotage”.
Amid the growing anger over the Pakistani court’s order, Swaraj told the Rajya Sabha in a powerful speech:
“Kulbhushan Jadhav is not just the son of his parents, he is the son of entire India. We will try to save him in whatever way possible.”
Meanwhile, Shashi Tharoor too has come up with a response on Twitter:
1/2 I believe 1 shouldn’t talk abt what was said/done in private.Others may have their reasons to tweet. I’ve maintained my silence,&dignity https://t.co/vbZlXT6w5o
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 12, 2017
2/2 That said, I place national interests over political ones or personal pride. Whenever India needs me, I’m available to do what i can. https://t.co/vbZlXT6w5o
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 12, 2017
