India takes strong measures to retaliate against the US
India has launched a retaliatory “diplomatic attack” against the US after Devyani Khobragade, the country’s Deputy Consul General in New York, was handcuffed by US police while taking her child to school, then detained with drug addicts and prostitutes on charges of visa fraud and exploiting the labor of domestic workers.
According to Indian media, angered by the harsh treatment of its diplomat by US authorities, India has so far decided to take "strong" measures.
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| Ms. Devyani Khobragade. (Source: facenfacts.com) |
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The Indian government has asked the Delhi State Police to remove traffic barricades on roads near the US Embassy, except those outside the US Embassy; Delhi is also seeking details of salaries of Indian staff working for US consulates, including domestic workers for consular staff and their families.
The Indian government will check visas and other relevant documents of all teachers at American universities in India, as well as salaries and bank accounts of Indians at these schools; the Indian government has stopped approving imports from the US Embassy, including alcohol.
Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh has summoned US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell to protest the unacceptable treatment of Indian diplomats in New York.
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, have refused to meet the US Congressional delegation visiting India.
In this regard, India believes that the US has violated Article 41 of the Vienna Convention, which states that a diplomat will only be arrested for serious crimes, and even if arrested, he must be treated with courtesy.
Khobragade, Deputy Consul General for Political, Economic, Commercial and Women's Affairs at the Indian Consulate in New York, was charged with visa fraud and making false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the first count and five years for the second count.
US prosecutors say Ms Khobragade claimed to be paying an Indian domestic worker for her family's Upper East Side home about $4,500 a month, but in reality, she only paid him $480 a month.
The average wage that Ms. Khobragade pays her maids is only $3.31/hour, less than half of the minimum wage of $7.25/hour set by the US government.
Ms. Khobragade posted $250,000 bail, but is expected to appear in court in January 2014 and if convicted, she will face up to 15 years in prison for both charges./.
According to VNA
