The strip search and arrest of the Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade has strained the diplomatic relationship between the United States and India. Secretary of State John Kerry has voiced his regret, however, India’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath stated "a mere regret won't make us happy. They must offer a clear apology and accept that they made a mistake, that is what we will be satisfied with". Likewise, Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid said "I cannot believe if a US senator was arrested he would be put through this behaviour....I would rather not prejudge. Let us allow the American government to respond."
Furthermore, India’s citizens have decided to react to the issue. On Friday protesters in India pushing for a ban on American goods attacked a Domino’s store close to Mumbai and smashed the glass door. Thankfully, no one had been hurt and police stated that they were enforcing tighter security at American stores. Similarly, Indian protesters this week have voiced their disapproval with the United States by burning photos of President Obama. India is not the only one protesting, however. More than twenty people gathered at the Consulate General of India in New York to demonstrate their support for Khobragade’s maid, Sangeetha Richard.
The arrest of Khobragade has an impact on her potential career as an Indian politician as well as those of others. Many Indians now consider her a heroine, and a political party is already encouraging her to run for parliament. In addition, political parties in India, in anticipation of next year’s election, are vigorously supporting her as a form of political leverage. The political parties are afraid of appearing weak before the United States.
India has now transferred Khobragade to the United Nations in an attempt to provide her with full diplomatic immunity. Tensions have risen between the United States and India as a result of this incident and India is infuriated. It will be interesting to see how the relationship between the two countries progresses as the case goes on.
Furthermore, India’s citizens have decided to react to the issue. On Friday protesters in India pushing for a ban on American goods attacked a Domino’s store close to Mumbai and smashed the glass door. Thankfully, no one had been hurt and police stated that they were enforcing tighter security at American stores. Similarly, Indian protesters this week have voiced their disapproval with the United States by burning photos of President Obama. India is not the only one protesting, however. More than twenty people gathered at the Consulate General of India in New York to demonstrate their support for Khobragade’s maid, Sangeetha Richard.
The arrest of Khobragade has an impact on her potential career as an Indian politician as well as those of others. Many Indians now consider her a heroine, and a political party is already encouraging her to run for parliament. In addition, political parties in India, in anticipation of next year’s election, are vigorously supporting her as a form of political leverage. The political parties are afraid of appearing weak before the United States.
India has now transferred Khobragade to the United Nations in an attempt to provide her with full diplomatic immunity. Tensions have risen between the United States and India as a result of this incident and India is infuriated. It will be interesting to see how the relationship between the two countries progresses as the case goes on.
Links to information:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2013/12/india-demands-us-apology-over-diplomat-arrest-2013121914272218592.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/in-dispute-over-indian-diplomat-an-internal-us-rift-and-many-unanswered-questions/2013/12/19/0a84f21c-68dd-11e3-ae56-22de072140a2_story.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/indian-protesters-attack-domino-mumbai-diplomat-arrest-article-1.1553907
http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/12/20/india-usa-attack-dominos-khobragade-idINDEE9BJ07B20131220
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/devyani-posted-to-un-for-full-immunity/article5474522.ece
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2013/12/india-us-row-what-happened-when-2013122053428986490.html
- Nitya
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2013/12/india-demands-us-apology-over-diplomat-arrest-2013121914272218592.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/in-dispute-over-indian-diplomat-an-internal-us-rift-and-many-unanswered-questions/2013/12/19/0a84f21c-68dd-11e3-ae56-22de072140a2_story.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/indian-protesters-attack-domino-mumbai-diplomat-arrest-article-1.1553907
http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/12/20/india-usa-attack-dominos-khobragade-idINDEE9BJ07B20131220
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/devyani-posted-to-un-for-full-immunity/article5474522.ece
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2013/12/india-us-row-what-happened-when-2013122053428986490.html
- Nitya