Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah lauded the Central Government for taking a “strong stance” against the US Government for mistreating Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in New York. Abdullah, who has served as junior foreign minister in NDA regime led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee said that element of reciprocity should exist between the relationships of two countries.
“I think if the relationship is to progress, reciprocity has to be the key word. If they treat our diplomats well, we will treat their diplomats well. And that is the way this relationship will go forward”, Omar said at an official function here. He compared the courtesies extended by the two countries to their diplomats and castigated the ill-treatment meted out to Khobragade. He said the US diplomats are treated differently in India and all doors are opened even for the mid-ranking US officials. He lamented that equitable courtesies are not extended to Indian diplomats in the US.
“This is a serious issue that the US and India need to work together to resolve. That having been said, I think this is the first time that India has actually taken a strong stand on an issue like this which I think we should complement the government of India for”, he said. Earlier speaking on passing out parade of paramilitary CRPF, he urged the security personnel to make their attitude towards the common people as benchmark.