No biz from US embassy: India
Thursday, 09/01/2014
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=91518&boxid=62261&uid=&dat=2014-01-09
New Delhi : India has told the US to stop commercial activities being undertaken from inside the American embassy premises in Delhi by January 16.
Cranking pressure on the US over the handcuffing and strip-search of its diplomat Devyani Khobragade, all US diplomatic vehicles flouting rules will also attract penalties.
Several commercial activities were being undertaken under the aegis of the American Community Support Association (ACSA), including a restaurant/bar, video club, bowling alley, swimming pool, sports field, beauty parlour and gym, said government sources.
“The US has been asked to provide the tax returns filed by it with Indian authorities for the commercial activities which are afforded through ACSA to non-diplomatic persons, including private American citizens and their families,” the sources said.
Indian authorities have cited the provision of such commercial facilities to non-diplomats as a violation of Article 41(3) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, which stipulates: “The premises of the mission must not be used in any manner incompatible with the functions of the mission as laid down in the present convention or by other rules of general international law or by any special agreements in force between the sending and the receiving state.”
It a related development, it is also understood that US diplomatic vehicles will now attract penalties for all traffic related offenses such as unauthorised parking, not stopping at red light, dangerous driving etc, the sources added.
“Necessary action against Vehicles with AF (applied for) number plates is also on the cards,” the sources added. The December 12 handcuffing and strip-search of Khobragade, India’s deputy consul general in New York, caused widespread outrage in India.
She has been accused of visa fraud and underpaying her child’s nanny in violation of US laws, charges she has denied. India has demanded the US take back all charges against Khobragade and offer an unconditional apology. While the US maintains her consular status does not provide immunity from arrest, India has said she has been an adviser at India’s Permanent Mission in the UN from August, which gave her full diplomatic immunity.
