Thanks to majority of the mainstream media, we were almost of the opinion that its only cows who have a sense of a dignified right to live in this nation and that Indian citizens do not really matter. At least until now, that was such a perception being created. India’s efforts to approach and stay the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav by the Pakistani government at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has saved the day for the Modi government till August 2017, as that is when the ICJ will conclude the final proceedings of the given case.
ICJ in today’s date pronounced an interim order for which it had heard the arguments insofar as the urgency and the gravity of the execution is concerned. Preliminarily, ICJ has taken the argument of India that being a Co-signee of the Vienna agreement along with Pakistan, the provisions therein mentioned that consular access should have been provided to India, holds water. Also that the sentence of death is a matter of urgency and hence it will be stayed for the meantime. Insofar as the question of maintainability and the jurisdiction is concerned, the ICJ has loosely mentioned that such a point of law will be discussed at a later date of hearing.
This ICJ interim order has elated the whole nation biting its nails after crossing its fingers that vindicates the Indian government in holding the pride of its nationals across the globe. The bigger picture for us is the vindication of being a proud Indian and how somewhere, quietly, subconsciously we were all hoping that India succeeds in saving Kulbhushan Jadhav, a citizen of India. Especially that citizen who is incarcerated in Pakistan on the serious charges of espionage and means to wage war against it. Unprecedented, this, by the Indian government.
Be it missing passport, seized passport, emergencies, abducted Indians, stuck-in-a-war Indians, violation of human rights because they are Indians, the Modi led Indian Government is leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to protect the life and liberty of every Indian. The BJP and its leaders who are usually accused of taking their sense of national identity quite seriously, are proving themselves unapologetically guilty on every such charge. Being an Indian is a matter of pride, and this government is taking all possible steps to prove that. If Modi is the vision behind making India a powerful nation, Sushma Swaraj is the instrument who has been excellent in reinstating the lost faith of its citizens in this great nation.
The message and intention is quite clear that India has arrived it is powerful, and the government is instilling a sense of unity and self-respect in every Indian across the globe.
We as Indians have been good professionals, employees, workers throughout the world. We have put our heads down and only worked with utmost sincerity and loyalty towards the employer, the country or the government that employs us. But it does not mean that any Indian could be trampled upon because he is an Indian.
Basically, Indians are no mere pushovers, and it is about time that we start believing in the path that this government is showing by standing for every Indian.
Some would argue that we should not be celebrating Christmas early. It is only an interim order and it should only be treated as one.
It is not a final order by the ICJ where the Pakistan government is seen handing over Kulbhushan Jadhav to us.
Others would argue that this embarrassment of Pakistan at the world stage is short lived and it is not going to make an iota of difference in their misdemeanors and misadventures with respect to India. Moreover, the enforcement of such orders of the ICJ by the courts in Pakistan is unprecedented. And it is only for the time to tell as to how the Pakistani Government and judiciary reacts to this order. Then again, my sense of gratification is not based on the outcome of this case. It is based purely on the efforts that this government is going for its citizens. It is also based contrary to the misnomer that the lives of cows matter more than its citizens.