Amid cries of ‘Pakistan murdabad’ and ‘shame, shame’ in Parliament, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday accused Islamabad of gross violations of human rights of former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav’s family members and creating an intimidating atmosphere during their meeting with him.

The meeting In Islamabad was used by Pakistan as an instrument to further its propaganda, and “there are not enough words to condemn the same,” Swaraj said in identical statements in both Houses.

She slammed Pakistan for portraying the meeting between Jadhav and his mother and wife as a humanitarian gesture when both humanity and compassion were missing.

“I am fully confident that this entire House and through this House, the people of India, strongly condemn the obnoxious behaviour of Pakistan and affirm their solidarity with the Jadhav family,” the minister said.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said the entire House wanted the government to take steps to secure Jadhav’s safe release.

Swaraj said while the meeting could have been a step forward in India-Pakistan relations, it was a matter of great concern that there was a departure from the agreed understanding between the two countries.

“The emotional moment between the mother and her son, and a wife and her husband after a period of 22 months, was misused by Pakistan as an instrument to further its propaganda,” she said. The minister said India’s concern arising out from the meeting had been unequivocally conveyed to Pakistan through diplomatic channels on Wednesday.

She said there was a clear agreement that the media would not be allowed close access to Jadhav’s mother and wife. However, not only was the Pakistani press allowed to come close to them but they were harassed through the use of offensive language by the media.

Under the pretext of security precautions, even the attire of the family members was changed. “Jadhav’s mother, who wears a sari only, was instead given salwar and kurta to wear. Bindi, bangles and mangalsutra of the wife were removed,” she added.

The minister said the mother wanted to talk to Jadhav in their mother tongue Marathi but was not allowed to do so.