Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
India is taking all required efforts to ensure that the U.S. drops all charges against diplomat Devyani Khobragade, whose arrest in New York two years ago had led to a diplomatic standoff between the two nations. India and the U.S. have initiated an official dialogue to comprehensively address all aspects related to the case against Khobragade and all issues arising from differing perspectives on diplomatic privileges and immunities, a NDTV report quoted External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj as saying during the Lok Sabha during the Question Hour March 11. Our government is making all attempts so that all charges levelled against her are dropped.
Khobragade was serving as the deputy consul general of India in New York when she was arrested on Dec. 12, 2013 on charges of visa fraud and providing false statement. Although she was released on bail the same day, the manner in which she was arrested and allegedly strip-searched, led to a major diplomatic standoff between the two countries. No legal action was taken on Khobragade after she was granted full diplomatic immunity by the U.S. She was however transferred to the Indian Permanent Mission to the United Nations, an arrest warrant was issued against her and she was subsequently transferred back to India.
During the Lok Sabha Question Hour, Swaraj also cited other instances of mistreatment of Indian diplomats in the last few years which occurred in Slovenia, Romania, Albania and Pakistan, besides such treatment meted out to eminent Indian citizens, including former President APJ Abdul Kalam who was subjected to frisking at New York airport against protocols, the NDTV report said. Such actions have not been repeated in these countries except Pakistan after the matter was taken up with the respective governments, Swaraj said.
Meanwhile, a Kerala High Court has ruled that the decision taken by the central government after the Khobragade row for not allowing Indians who accept Trafficking (T) visas issued by the United States to fly there is against fundamental rights, the Times of India reported March 8. Issued to victims of human trafficking, a T visa allows the holder to stay in the U.S. temporarily first and then become a permanent resident later. By accepting such a visa, the holder is required to testify against his traffickers. In an inter-ministerial meeting held in February 2014, India government decided to treat holder of a US T visa as a violator of local law, the Passports Act, 1967, the report said.
