New Delhi: Stepping up pressure on the US, India on Thursday demanded that the case against senior diplomat Devyani Khobragade be dropped unconditionally amid indication that the two sides are working behind the scene to resolve the issue that has strained the ties.
A day after US Secretary of State John Kerry expressed regret over the arrest, his counterpart Salman Khurshid went public with the demand that the case against 39-year-old Khobragade, who was arrested and strip searched in a visa fraud case, should be withdrawn. “The case does not deserve to be pursued,” Khurshid said, adding, “Our relationship has a lot of investment…and we have to deal with it sensibly”.
There has been a flurry of diplomatic activities since Wednesday with Kerry calling up National Security Advisor and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman speaking to Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh for about 40 minutes last night.
US President Barack Obama was also briefed after which the White House described the arrest as an “isolated incident” and hoped that the matter would not derail bilateral ties.
The path for a possible way out has been laid by India by transferring Khobragade, who hitherto did not enjoy full diplomatic immunity as a counsellor officer, to country’s Permanent Mission to UN, New York which will give her fuller immunity and after which she will be immune to prosecution there.
However, the fate of the visa fraud case, in which she has given USD 250,000 bond and surrendered her passport, was not clear. Nor is it clear that whether the US administration can wit hdraw a case which is already before a court. The tough-talking India-born US Prosecutor Preet Bharara, who is handling the case, gave no indication of relenting in an unusual statement which defended the arrest. He also confirmed that the family of Khobargade’s absconding maid, whose alleged ill-treatment by the diplomat led to the arrest, had been “evacuated” from India to the US, days ago.
India hit back at Bharara, accusing him of interfering with the Indian legal system and asserting that the arrest was not in keeping with the Vienna Convention on diplomatic immunity.
Criticising the US Prosecutor for making statement for “post facto rationalization” for an action that should never have taken place in the first instance, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson said there were no courtesies extended to Khobragade, who is the only “victim” in this case.
He said despite acknowledging that legal process were in place in India, the statement talks why it was necessary to evacuate the family of absconding maid Sangeeta Richard, thereby, making “implicit comment” about the Indian legal system, its enforcement authorities, and the responsibility that legal officials of a foreign government seem to “arrogate upon” themselves with regard to nationals of another country. (PTI)
Manmohan directs full resolution
New Delhi: Upset over the treatment meted out to Deputy Consul General Devyani Khobragade in New York, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has directed External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon to ensure “full resolution” of the issue.
Singh, who has been monitoring the developments related to the diplomat, was briefed by Menon on his telephonic talk with US Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday night , sources said.
Khurshid also briefed Singh on Wednesday on the issue, the sources said. The Prime Minister, who has been upset over the treatment meted out to Khobragade, has directed all concerned in the government to ensure “full resolution” of the issue, implying that the diplomat should be freed and the case against her withdrawn.
Singh had on Wednesday termed as “deplorable” the treatment that the 39-year-old diplomat had been subjected to. The government had asserted in Parliament earlier that it will take strong steps to ensure the return of the diplomat and ensure restoration of her dignity.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said the government was “fully sensitive” to the way political parties and the nation have expressed their outrage and indignation over the issue. Asked whether any further steps should be taken by India in this regard, he said “we should wait. The External Affairs Ministry has to take a call. If more positive steps need to be taken will be taken.”
Diplomat’s father threatens fast
Meanwhile, the father of Khobragade on Thursday threatened to launch a fast if “fabricated” charges of visa fraud against his diplomat daughter were not dropped and her honour restored even as he dubbed as “blatant” attack on Indian judiciary US attorney Preet Bharara’s remarks after the incident.
Uttam Khobragade, a retired IAS officer, said the arrest of his daughter was part of a conspiracy. (PTI)