A diplomatic row erupted on Saturday following diplomat Devyani Khobragade’s re-indictment with India warning that this “unnecessary step” will impact strategic partnership with the US. New Delhi also said since the diplomat has returned to India, it will no longer engage with the US legal system.
Reacting sharply to the second indictment, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said here on Saturday it was an “unnecessary” step and any measure consequent to the decision will “unfortunately” impact upon efforts on both sides to build India-US strategic partnership. Terming the re-indictment as an “unnecessary step,” he said “any measures consequent to this decision in the US, will unfortunately impact upon efforts on both sides to build the India-US strategic partnership, to which both sides are committed.”
He also said “we are disappointed that the relevant office of the United States Department of Justice chose to obtain a second indictment against Khobragade, despite the fact that the first indictment and arrest warrant were dismissed earlier this week,” he said here.
Making clear that as far as India was concerned the case has no merit, the spokesperson said, now that Khobragade has returned, the court in the US has no jurisdiction in India over her and Government will therefore no longer engage on this case in the US legal system.
The 39-year-old diplomat, who was arrested in New York on December 12 last year, was strip-searched and held with criminals, triggering a row between the two countries with India retaliating by downgrading privileges of certain category of US diplomats among other steps.