India has reacted sharply to Pakistan's conduct during the meet between Kulbhushan Jadhav and his family

India reacted strongly to the way Pakistan government conducted the meeting between jailed Indian Kulbhushan Jadhav and his wife and mother.

"We note with regret that the Pakistani side conducted the meeting in a manner which violated the letter and spirit of our understandings," a Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said. According to the MEA spokesperson there were clear understandings between the two sides and the Indian side scrupulously abided by all its commitments.

The two governments were in touch through diplomatic channels as to how the meeting would be conducted. India charged Pakistan with disregarding cultural and religious sensibilities of the family members.

The family members were asked to remove mangalsutra, bangles, bindi and shoes; they were also asked to change their clothes.

All this was done under the pretext of security. In fact Jadhav's wife's shoes were not returned.

India's foreign ministry has alleged that Jadhav's mother was not allowed to communicate in Marathi, her mother tongue Moreover she was repeatedly interrupted while doing so and eventually prevented from proceeding further in this regard.

The meeting between Jadhav and his relatives was conducted without the presence of JP Singh, India's Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan.

He could only join the meeting after haranguing Pakistani officials. Worse Singh was kept behind an additional partition which prevented him from accessing the meeting as was agreed upon.

India's foreign ministry has also charged Pakistan with allowing the local press to approach the family members and harass them. This went against the agreement that media would not be allowed close access.

Kulbhushan Jadhav is in Pakistani custody and is a death-row prisoner under spying charges. Pakistan maintains that Jadhav is an Indian spy, a charge which has been denied by India. India has even approached International Court of Justice (ICJ) to secure his release.

Jadhav's mother and wife were granted permission to meet him in Pakistan by Pakistan authorities. But they could interact with him only through a glass panel which separated them from Jadhav. The family was not allowed to talk with him privately. It is for this reason that the meet is being panned as a 'PR exercise' from Pakistan. During the meet, Indian deputy high commissioner was also present with the family but he did not interact with Kulbhushan.

Pakistan claimed that they have 'honoured the commitment' given by them. But at the same time, Pakistan has refused to give consular access to Kulbhushan in spite of dozens of requests from India.

After Jadhav's meet with his family, Pakistan said that the issue of granting consular access to Jadhav will be decided 'at appropriate time'. Pakistan also claimed that Jadhav's meet with his family 'was not a last one'.