Body of retired diplomats condemn action against Khobragade

An association of retired Indian ambassadors on Friday strongly condemned the treatment meted out to senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade by American authorities in New York and demanded an appropriate compensation to her for mental agony and trauma caused by the "illegal" action.

The Association of Indian Diplomats said it was deeply outraged at the incident and termed the US action against Khobragade as "clear failure" on its part to respect international diplomatic commitments and obligations.

"The manner in which the Deputy Consul General, a high diplomatic representative of a friendly country, was treated is condemnable by the standards of any civilised society. Such actions impact directly on the effective and official functioning of Indian diplomats," the association said in a statement.

The 1999-batch IFS officer was arrested on December 12 on charges of making false declarations in a visa application for her maid Sangeeta Richards. The diplomat was released on a USD 250,000 bond after being charged with visa fraud.

Subsequent revelations that she was strip searched and held with criminals triggered a row between the two nations, with India downgrading privileges of certain category of US diplomats, among other steps.

The association said it was dismayed at the "spacious, inaccurate and bureaucratic" arguments that the State Department and other US authorities have put forward to try to justify such "selective and discriminatory" treatment of the Indian diplomat as standard American procedure.

"The association unequivocally condemns the action of the US authorities and extends its full support to the Indian diplomat," it said.

It asked the Indian government to insist on withdrawal of all charges against Khobragade as well as an "official apology" by the US government and appropriate compensation to her for mental agony and trauma caused by the illegal action of the US authorities.

While considering importance of India's ties with the US and the need to "avoid indiscriminate responses or confused signals on long-pending reciprocal measures on other issues," the association advocated expeditious action by the government on the basis of strict reciprocity.

It also asked the government to ensure that "strict reciprocity" is restored in matters of privileges and immunities to the US diplomats and Consular officials and establishments in India.

"The association also recommends that the government of India raise the issue at all appropriate international bodies so as to ensure that such treatment is not meted out to any similar person in any country in future," it said.

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