India shields Devyani

Transfers her to UN Mission, to seek diplomatic immunity

• RS members cutting across party lines condemn US action

• Mulayam: Strip them naked, too, and make them apologise

New Delhi: The Congress-led Government on Wednesday stepped in to grant protection to Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, by transferring her to the Indian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, following which she gets full diplomatic immunity. This assumes significance, as she has been subjected to the most abject treatment by the US Administration on charges of visa fraud.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the incident. He said, “The treatment meted out to Indian Deputy Consul-General by the US is deplorable.” Parliament expressed outrage over the treatment to Devyani, as MPs cutting across party lines, condemned the United States. Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav said, “Give a strong warning to America. Their people should be stripped naked, too. Make them apologise.”

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said that the US action was a clear violation of the Vienna Convention. Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien said, “We live in a global village, but we don’t need a village headman. America must stop pretending to be head of the world.”

CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said, “The incident cannot be accepted by any self-respecting sovereign nation.” Yechury accused the government of not protesting enough, when reports of the US snooping over Indian leaders emerged recently.

It is no longer an issue of an individual, but the sovereignty of a nation is involved.” Khurshid said the Deputy Consular-General received a phone call from a lawyer, who refused to identify himself and offered to settle the matter that would result in grant of permanent citizenship to her and a huge compensation. It became clear that this was a conspiracy and some people trapped her, he said. Khurshid said despite filing a complaint with New York police, no action was taken and added that an FIR was registered in Delhi under Sections 420, 403, 408, 120-B IPC in Fatehpur Beri police station. He said on September 23, a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against the servant concerned and forwarded to the US State Department requesting them to arrest and repatriate her, but no action was taken.

WHO SAID WHAT

The treatment meted out to Indian Deputy Consul-General by the US is deplorable - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

We are confident that our message which is loud and clear will be heard. We are two countries which have good relations. An aberration of this kind and departure from past is something we wouldn't want - Salman Khurshid

The government acted belatedly in Devyani Khobragade's case, because of her caste. Dalits across the country are very angry - Mayawati, BSP

The incident cannot be accepted by any self-respecting sovereign nation. - Sitaram Yechury, CPM

In retaliation to the arrest and heaping insults on the Indian lady diplomat in USA, the action of Government of India, though delayed, is in the right direction - CPI

We live in a global village, but we don’t need a village headman. America must stop pretending to be head of the world. - Derek O’Brien (TMC)