In anticipation of a gradual resolution of the diplomatic row over Devyani Khobragade, India and the United States have sought to lower the diplomatic temperature and continue the conversations to find a way out of the mess. However, the US insisted that the visa fraud case against Devyani would continue despite her transfer to the Indian mission in the UN.
In line with this new approach, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid held forth in New Delhi on India’s “exceptionally valuable relationship with the United States” — and Washington wasted little time in acknowledging it.
Khurshid sought to impress upon the US to “understand the value” of the partnership between the two countries. Terming the US as a valuable partner, he said, “We are in a conversation at different levels. let the conversation go to its logical conclusion. We have an extremely exceptionally valuable relationship with the US and I do believe that they have similar sentiments about us...And it must understand value of partnership.”
The Minister also said by arresting the senior diplomat, the channels of communication got interrupted which was a matter of “concern”. “..I speak to America through diplomatic channels and my diplomatic channels have been interrupted. That is my concern. That was my agony that my diplomatic channel has been interrupted,” Khurshid said.
Responding to India’s concerns, US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said, “We certainly fully agree that it’s important to preserve and protect our partnership. It’s not just about diplomatic ties. We have over $90 billion in bilateral trade. We’re supporting thousands of jobs in both of our countries. We share very close counterterrorism cooperation.”
She stressed that the two sides will continue their consultations on the Devyani affair “through diplomatic channels, through private conversations”.
“We’re in close contact, and we want to move beyond this. And I think we all recognise the importance of our long-term relationship,” Psaki said, without going into details on precisely how the dispute would play out in the coming days.
In the midst of the unresolved issues, attention shifted to the United Nations headquarters in New York with a spokesman confirming that the world body has received the Indian request to register Khobragade as a member of India’s Permanent Mission to the UN.
“The United Nations is processing this request according to its standard procedures,” said Acting Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq. He declined to comment on whether Khobragade would enjoy full diplomatic immunity once she gets the UN accreditation.
The United States has taken the public stand that any diplomatic immunity conferred upon Khobragade would not have a retroactive effect to wipe the slate clean on the episode stemming from the alleged visa fraud charges slapped on her.
The State Department was emphatic on this score yet again on Friday. “Receiving diplomatic immunity does not nullify any previously existing criminal charges. Those remain on the books,” Psaki said, adding: “Nor does obtaining diplomatic immunity protect the diplomat from prosecution indefinitely. It relates to a diplomat’s current status for the length of the time of that status.”
India’s UN envoy Asoke Mukherjee said that once Khobragade received her UN accreditation, she would be eligible for greater privileges, including diplomatic protection from arrest. “We have welcomed her into our team here at the UN,” he said, adding: “As soon as she is accredited, we hope she will be able to discharge her responsibilities.”
Khurshid’s Cabinet colleague Anand Sharma too termed the India-US relationship far too important and maintained that the Devyani case would not impact the bilateral ties. “India was outraged over the treatment given to Devyani but our relationship with the US is far too important. It is a strategic partnership between the two largest democracies of the world. Strategic in every sense, so we are not disengaging. This relationship will go stronger,” the Commerce and Industry Minister said.
“In mature democracies, issues get addressed. Issues are not allowed to cast an ominous shadow on what is truly a building partnership,” he added.
The Government’s toned-down responses came even as Devyani’s father Uttam Khobragade, a former IAS officer, alleged her daughter’s former maid Sangeeta Richards could be a “CIA agent”. He said her daughter had been made a “scapegoat” and the possibility of a conspiracy behind the visa fraud allegations against her could not be ruled out. Stating that the family would get justice only after the “false charges” against Devyani were dropped, he said Sangeeta Richards could be a “CIA agent”. Khobragade was speaking at a press conference in Mumbai with Republican Party of India chief Ramdas Athawale.
Khobragade, the 1999-batch IFS officer who was arrested on December 12, was released on a $250,000 bond after pleading not guilty to charges of visa fraud or making false statements about payments to her Indian maid, Sangeeta Richards.
While the treatment meted out to Khobragade over the manner in which she was arrested, handcuffed and subjected to strip-search and cavity search has led to angry protests across India, American media outlets have sought to gloss over the indignity by focusing instead on alleged ill-treatment of the maid.
In a strongly-worded editorial, titled “India’s Misplaced Outrage”, the New York Times commented: “India’s overwrought reaction to the arrest of one of its diplomats in the United States is unworthy of a democratic government. Officials in New Delhi have inflamed anti-American outrage instead of calling for justice, especially for the domestic worker who is at the heart of the case.”
Stating that charges brought against Khobragade should concern anyone who values worker rights, the NYT wrote: “Instead of concerning themselves with that injustice, many in India seem incensed that Ms Khobragade was arrested at all…It is not unusual in India for domestic employees to be paid poorly and required to work more than 60 hours a week. But such practices are not allowed under American law, and abuses by anyone should not be tolerated, regardless of their status.”