India sets up special group on Khobragade case


New Delhi, Dec 29 (IANS): With India determined not to relent on its demand for the US to formally apologise on the handcuffing and strip-search of its envoy Devyani Khobragade, a special group of experts, including in international law, would be meeting on Monday to discuss the case.

The US has been quiet on the matter for the past few days on account of most senior officials going on end-of-year leave for Christmas and New Year.

The meeting of the group of experts, set up by Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, is indicative of India's firm resolve to pursue the matter to the end, said sources.

The group would comprise of experts in international law, finance, human resource, and international organisations, among others. They would follow up on all Khobragade related developments.

The group would also scrutinise the information on the wages being paid by US diplomats in India to their Indian staff to see if was on par with the US standards.

Khobragade, India's deputy consul general in New York, was arrested for alleged visa fraud and underpaying her nanny, Sangeeta Richard - charges she has denied. Khobragade was handcuffed and strip-searched, a development which has caused outrage in India.

India has demanded that the US take back charges against Khobragade and tender an apology.

While the US maintained that she was a consular official and not under diplomatic immunity, India has said Khobragade was concurrently an advisor to India's Permanent Mission at the UN from April this year, which gave her full diplomatic immunity.

India has sought details from the US embassy and its consulates on the number of Indian staff on their rolls and the wages paid to them.

India has already withdrawn the airport passes given to US diplomats in India and the special diplomatic identity cards issued to them as part of reciprocal measures after the arrest of the envoy.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Ken, Mlore

    Mon, Dec 30 2013

    India is correct in its objective of supporting its Citizens right in the US, which is very much appreciated. Having said this, India on its part, should first investigate as to whether its citizen has committed a mistake and violated US Laws, as the Laws of each country prevails over all other laws. This is very evident in the way, in which US Corporations handle their ethics when it comes to their operations in other countries. In India, you can get away with most of the scams or violations you commit, if you have the financial and political contacts.
    In addition, we should realize like the few comments made, that we as Indians today, have been heavily dependent on the Foreign funds inflows by reputed IT companies, which is one of the prime factors for our inflows of foreign funds.
    We have to also ask ourselves, if revoking and withdrawing of US diplomat ID cards are right, coz, if US decides to withdraw the B1 visas and refuse to renew green card status, lot of Indian will face the harsh reality of having to lose their jobs, and will have to come back. Is India prepared for this? as already our unemployment is on the rise, and you can imagine the consequences of this, all becoz we have blindly supported our diplomat, without finding the truth behind the allegations. Hope the 2 countries will be able to resolve this amicably.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Amin Bhoja, Patte / Riyadh

    Mon, Dec 30 2013

    I really salute India side who follows these cases very keenly.America should always learn a lesson of give and take respect manner.Big brother attitude towards others and bullying should be stopped for permanently!!!.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • ad, mangloor

    Mon, Dec 30 2013

    Can india shake the US tree over khorbra(jade)?

    Not so, as long as India licks US and Indians green cards.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • stan, dubai

    Mon, Dec 30 2013

    India has to call back Khobragade immediately and inquire about wrongdoing, If she is wrong they have punish her or they have fight against the United states if they are wrong.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • valerian D Souza, Mangalore/ Dubai

    Mon, Dec 30 2013

    US is now allowing her to come back now. India is not forcing her to come back also. Lets see who is retracting.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mapusa

    Sun, Dec 29 2013

    India is no longer a BANANA REPUBLIC...

    DisAgree [7] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: India sets up special group on Khobragade case



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