Indian Diplomat Case Continues To Open More Wounds Between US And India

WASHINGTON -The arrest of an Indiandiplomat on charges ofvisa fraud in New Yorkhas become a major crisisin U.S.-India relations anda source of contentionwithin the Obamaadministration, accordingto an American mediareport.“Visa fraud case ofDevyani Khobragaderoils U.S.-India relations,sparks new legal dispute,’headlined The WashingtonPost in a news report Tuesdayin which the daily described theissue as a major crisis betweenthe two countries.“The arrest of DevyaniKhobragade, 39, India’sDeputy Consul General in NewYork, on charges of submittingfraudulent U.S. visa documentsfor her Indian maid, hasbecome a major crisis in U.S.-India relations and a source ofcontention within the Obamaadministration,” The Postreported.But perhaps it’s a goodthing because it will teachIndian Diplomats not tooverstep their boundaries! Asmany expatriates know, manydiplomats in foreign lands,especially in North America,can become a source ofharassment and intimidation ofthe NRI community, especiallywhen it comes to visa relatedissues.A 1999-batch IFS officer,Khobragade was arrested onDecember 12 on charges ofmaking false declarations in avisa application for her maidSangeeta Richard. She wasreleased on a $250,000 bond.India has been demandingthe withdrawal of the caseagainst her and an apologyfrom the U.S. for the treatmentmeted out to the diplomat,including a strip search anddetention with criminals afterher arrest.According to the Post, theefforts of the State Departmentand Indian government toresolve the case diplomaticallywould be made significantlymore difficult once Khobragadeis indicted, and she has clearlypinned her hopes on avoidingthat step.A conviction could alsohamper any future plans thatKhobragade, whose husband isa U.S. citizen, may have to visitor reside in the United States, itnoted.In another article, TheAmerican Interest said thecontinued hard feelings in Indiasuggest that the dispute couldhave a long-term impact on arelationship both sides say iscrucial. Coming to some kindof mutually face-savingcompromise on the currentcase would be a good idea,and if nothing else it isuseful to remember thatPresident Barack Obamahas the power to pardon anyoffenses under U.S. law, itsaid.“More important, theU.S. needs to sit down withthe Indian governmentand work out a mutuallyacceptable understandingthat will govern the statusof diplomats and consularofficials in both countries onthe basis of reciprocity,” TheAmerican Interest wrote.“America’s goal here isnot to win an argument aboutthe merits of this case. It is todeepen our relationship withIndia without doing violenceto our own principles andlaws,” it said.