U.S.: Indian community seeks Trump's intervention to save Kulbhushan Jadhav

The Indian-American community in the United States has launched a petition seeking the Washington's intervention to bring justice to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was recently sentenced to death by a Pakistan court.

"This petition seeks justice for Mr Kulbhushan Jadhav an Indian citizen and ex-naval officer aged about 46 years who was abducted from Iran and taken to Pakistan," reads the petition that was created on April 14.

It adds that the charges against Jadhav of terrorism and spying for India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), is totally false and baseless.

"The fact that India isn't given consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav clearly proves the point that the charges over which death sentence is awarded to Kulbhushan Jadhav are false and fabricated," the petition argues.

"In view of above, I humbly request appropriate and capable authorities to intervene in the matter and make sure that Mr Kulbhushan Jadhav doesn't get punished for the act which which he never committed. I also united nation to look in to this matter thank you," it added.

The petition needs 97,271 signatures by May 14, 2017 to get a response from the White House. So far, 2,729 people have signed it.

Jadhav was awarded death penalty on April 10 in an unprecedented decision that triggered diplomatic spat between India and Pakistan.

The Pakistan Army has ruled out any consular access to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, saying he is not eligible for it as per the laws.

"Kulbhushan is not eligible for consular access nor will be granted consular access," said Pakistan Armed Forces spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor.

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had earlier warned Islamabad that it risked damaging bilateral ties with New Delhi if it went ahead with the execution of Jadhav.

Jadhav was arrested in March last year in the restive Balochistan province and accused of being a Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) agent.

India has, however, so far categorically denied such charges.