'US owes India an apology'

Observing that Indo-US ties are “on the rocks” after the arrest of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, a noted American columnist has asked the Obama Administration to clear up the mess and offer a “sincere apology” to India at the earliest.

“The Obama administration has to clean up this mess with an official and sincere apology. It should be issued by (Secretary of State John) Kerry,” wrote CNN Contributor and Radio Talk Show Host Ruben Navarrette.

A columnist with The Washington Post Writers Group, Navarrette wrote what Americans really need to kick off the New Year is a dramatic improvement in relations with India.

“In a world where it sometimes seems the US doesn’t have many friends and allies, that south Asian country has become both. Most notably, since the attacks September 11, 2001, India has been a partner in fighting the war on terror,” he said.

“Now the relationship is on the rocks due to an ugly incident involving a 39-year-old deputy consul general of India who was taken into custody on December 12 by the US Marshals Service on charges she lied on the application for her nanny and housekeeper to legally work in the United States,” Navarre.