Mumbai: The father of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, whose arrest
in the US last year had sparked a big row between the two countries, on
Monday demanded all charges against her be dropped after the United
Nations confirmed an advisor has diplomatic immunity from arrest.
Uttam Khobragade, a retired IAS officer, also said he would join the protest being organised on Wednesday at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to demand dropping of all charges against his daughter.
"Our government's stand was that since Devyani enjoyed diplomatic immunity, the arrest and prosecution could not have been launched at all. The UN has also confirmed that an advisor has diplomatic immunity from arrest. The fact that Devyani was an advisor has not been challenged by any one. The arrest was illegal and in light of all confirmation the charges need to be dropped," Khobragade told PTI.
"If the US does not drop charges, India should rethink purchase of arms from that country," Khobragade said, adding he has written to Defence Minister on the issue.
Devyani, Deputy Consul General at the Indian mission in New York, was arrested in December and strip-searched over allegations of visa fraud relating to payments to her housemaid, triggering a diplomatic standoff between the two countries.
A New York grand jury had indicted her for visa fraud and making multiple false statements. The 39-year-old diplomat had left the US in January after she was granted immunity from charges of visa fraud and underpaying her maid.
Khobragade said the government, particularly, the Ministry of External Affairs, has been doing an extremely great work and has demonstrated that the entire case is false and baseless.
"Some organisations are staging a dharna at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Wednesday to demand charges against Devyani be dropped. I will also be joining the protest," Khobragade said.
Uttam Khobragade, a retired IAS officer, also said he would join the protest being organised on Wednesday at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to demand dropping of all charges against his daughter.
"Our government's stand was that since Devyani enjoyed diplomatic immunity, the arrest and prosecution could not have been launched at all. The UN has also confirmed that an advisor has diplomatic immunity from arrest. The fact that Devyani was an advisor has not been challenged by any one. The arrest was illegal and in light of all confirmation the charges need to be dropped," Khobragade told PTI.
"If the US does not drop charges, India should rethink purchase of arms from that country," Khobragade said, adding he has written to Defence Minister on the issue.
Devyani, Deputy Consul General at the Indian mission in New York, was arrested in December and strip-searched over allegations of visa fraud relating to payments to her housemaid, triggering a diplomatic standoff between the two countries.
A New York grand jury had indicted her for visa fraud and making multiple false statements. The 39-year-old diplomat had left the US in January after she was granted immunity from charges of visa fraud and underpaying her maid.
Khobragade said the government, particularly, the Ministry of External Affairs, has been doing an extremely great work and has demonstrated that the entire case is false and baseless.
"Some organisations are staging a dharna at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Wednesday to demand charges against Devyani be dropped. I will also be joining the protest," Khobragade said.
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