Drop visa fraud charges against Devyani: India
Sunday, 12/01/2014
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=91767&boxid=61996&uid=&dat=2014-01-12
New Delhi/Washington : Urging the US to drop charges of visa fraud against diplomat Devyani Khobragade, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said that she was not guilty of any wrongdoing.
US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said on Saturday that the US had not changed charges against the 39-year-old diplomat, who returned here late on Friday night after being expelled by the American authorities.
“Her name would be placed in visa and immigration lookout systems to prevent the routine issuance of any future visa and upon her departure a warrant may be issued for her arrest,” she said. However, Khurshid said that Khobragade, who was arrested in New York on December 12, was not guilty of any wrongdoing.
Defending India’s stand on the issue, Khurshid told Karan Thapar for CNN-IBN’s Devil’s Advocate that India would continue pressing for dropping of visa fraud charges against Khobragade and made it clear that there was no rethink on restoring extra privileges to American diplomats here.
Khurshid said efforts would be on to ‘clean up things completely’ to the satisfaction of both the sides.
Describing Khobragade episode as a ‘mini crisis,’ the minister also defended India’s decision to ask the US Embassy to stop commercial activities from within its premises and withdrawal of the extra privileges. He added, “No, there wasn’t retaliation. I think it was an appropriate response not a retaliation.”
Asserting that India should not be seen extending more privileges to one country and less to others, he said, “We did what really is the formal procedures that apply to everybody.
“If they were friends, taking extra concessions, those extra concessions may have been discretionary given to them from time to time.
“But when you take stock of what are our entitlements and what are your obligations then it becomes important that you put everything in line.”
Khobragade refused to comment on the episode involving her. “No comments. I am really thankful for all your support.... I cannot make any comment. The government will speak for me. My lawyer will speak for me,” she said.
Meanwhile, Khobragade met Khurshid and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh here and told them about her ordeal. She also thanked them for their support.
