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December 18, 2013

India Seeks U.S. Apology for Diplomat's Arrest; Embassy Barriers Removed 
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A spat has opened up between the United States and India over the
alleged mistreatment of an Indian diplomat. India's deputy consul
general in New York was arrested last week on charges of underpaying a
domestic helper and committing visa fraud to win her entry into the
country. The diplomat says she was handcuffed, cavity-searched and kept
in a cell with drug-addicted prisoners despite asserting her right to
diplomatic immunity. Indian Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath
demanded an apology.

Kamal Nath: "The United States needs to come out of the mindset that
there are still banana republics in this world. That's an old mindset.
The United States, along with all the states and state functionaries,
must recognize that every country has dignity and cannot be dealt with
in this manner. More steps should be taken against the United States
until they give an unconditional apology for what has happened."

In response, Indian officials have removed security barriers in front of
the U.S. embassy in New Delhi. A group of Indian politicians has also
refused to meet with a delegation of visiting U.S. lawmakers. In
Washington, State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said the U.S.
expects India to protect its embassy.

Marie Harf: "We have conveyed at high levels to the government of India
our expectations that India will continue to fulfill all of its
obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and
Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, excuse me. Obviously, the
safety and security of our diplomats and consular officers in the field
is a top priority."

 

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