IT goes without saying that arresting India’s deputy consul general in New York, Devyani Khobragade in the manner in which it was done was simply scandalous. Devyani allegedly lied on a visa application for her maid. Nobody justifies that. But she was handcuffed, strip-searched, subjected to a DNA swab and treated like a common criminal before being released on bail. It just cannot be justified. A consular official is entitled to certain courtesies. The US action violated Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on consular relations. The feeling is that US officials show double standards in these matters. Chinese or British consular officials would have been treated much more politely. The US itself would have created a wave of indignation globally if one of its consular officials had been treated in like manner. Rahul Gandhi, Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister SK Shinde and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon refused to meet a US Congressional delegation in protest against the humiliation of Devyani.
New Delhi of course had to ask for an apology from the US. But it should not have overreacted. It was not wise to withdraw security to US diplomats in India. It would be folly to arrest US homosexuals in India at the prompting of BJP leader Yashwant Sinha. The matter should not be allowed to escalate into a political conflict between the two countries. Economic and strategic relationship between Washington and Delhi is of paramount interest. A strong protest from Delhi to Washington should have been adequate.
