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WITH India curtailing privileges of American diplomats to protest humiliation of its Deputy Consul General in New York Devyani Khobragade last week, the Indo-US diplomatic row has turned ugly. "The US needs to be awakened… India can’t be treated like a banana republic,” says angry Kamal Nath, India's parliamentary affairs minister. “Arrest same sex companions of US diplomats”, urges India’s former external affairs minister Yaswant Sinha. Find below 5 viewpoints:
India not a banana republicKamal Nath, Parliamentary Affairs Minister
“India can’t be treated like a banana republic…Calling the incident unfortunate is putting it mildly. We want an unconditional apology…The US and other countries should recognize the dignity and respect of other countries. They cannot deal with other countries in such a manner…The US needs to be awakened, that this is a changed world. I think India should give a lead to other countries to get this home to the US. There is a need for paradigm shift and reciprocity while dealing with other countries.”
India must act on the principle of reciprocity
Arun Jaitley, Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha
“The arrest and the treatment meted out to the Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade deserves to be condemned. The United States unilateralism in narrowing down the scope of diplomatic immunity should not be accepted by India…Diplomacy operates on the principle of reciprocity…The case of Devyani Khobragade is a pointer to the fact that Government of India must now and in future act on the principle of reciprocity. If there is any infringement of any local law, be it even a municipal or State laws, by an American diplomat/consular official, we must waive off the immunity under the Vienna Conventions. Similarly, if we find the conduct of any US elected representative unacceptable in our subjective opinion, we must reserve the right to reject his or her visa application.”
It's a Barbaric incident
Shivshankar Menon, National Security Adviser
“It is despicable and barbaric”.
How to express displeasure
Lalit Mansingh, Former Foreign Secretary
“When countries want to express displeasure it is done in many ways. What India has done in this case is to express displeasure and convey that in case issues are not resolved, further steps can be taken. That is why government advised leaders not to meet official delegations. It is to tell that India will review the consular privileges extended to American diplomats” (Courtesy: DNA)
Arrest same sex companions of US diplomats
Yashwant Sinha, Former External Affairs Minister
"My suggestion to the Government of India is, the media has reported that we have issued visas to a number of US diplomats’ companions. ‘Companions’ means that they are of the same sex. Now, after the Supreme Court ruling, it is completely illegal in our country. Just as paying less wages was illegal in the US. So, why doesn’t the government of India go ahead and arrest all of them? Put them behind bars, prosecute them in this country and punish them”.
Excerpts of Devyani Khobragade's email to her IFS colleagues narrating her ordeal after arrest: "While I was going through it, although I must admit that I broke down many times as the indignities of repeated handcuffing, stripping and cavity searches, swabbing, in a holdup with common criminals and drug addicts were all being imposed upon me despite my incessant assertions of immunity, I got the strength to regain composure and remain dignified thinking that I must represent all of my colleagues and my country with confidence and pride,"
ReplyDeleteRead some international press about this incident and one would come to know how she represnted India.
ReplyDeleteIts a shame that how acts of one degrades the reputation of entire country. How would help responsible for degrading the dignity of our mother India??
The irony is an Indian-American is more concerned about Indians living there then the one who are representing India.
Shame on us!
The alacrity with which Mr Preet Bharar has acted proves the old point about being.."more loyal than the king himself".
ReplyDeleteAnother IFS officer was shunted because she had refused to issue a visa to a gay companion of a US diplomat. Should the Govt now reconsider that move to appease the US?