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Indian diplomat victim of conspiracy, says Khurshid New Delhi, December 18 "She is innocent... It is not the illegality that she (Khobragade) is accused of, but the illegality she refused to oblige," said External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid. New Delhi also accused the US of a fraud by granting a visa to the family of her absconding maid. The diplomat has now been shifted from the Indian Consulate in New York to the Permanent Mission of India (PMI) to the United Nations to ensure full diplomatic immunity to her. India is absolutely clear that all charges against Devyani must be unconditionally dropped and she should be allowed to perform her duties without any hindrance.Some intriguing facts have now emerged in the case. It is learnt that the maid suddenly disappeared from Devyani’s house. This was brought to the notice of American authorities but they did nothing in the matter. In July, the maid met Devyani and tried to blackmail the Indian diplomat by demanding $ 10,000 and an immigration passport, among other things. "The Deputy Consul General received a phone call from a lawyer who refused to identify himself and offered to settle the matter that would result in grant of permanent citizenship to her and a huge compensation. It became clear that this was a conspiracy and some people trapped her," said Khurshid. Sangeeta’s family was granted visa by American authorities despite India being in touch with Americans since her disappearance and cancellation of her official passport in June. The family - Sangeeta's husband Philip and two children- left for New York on December 10, just two days before Khobragade was arrested. The maid’s father, who is said to be working for the US mission, might have helped her family members to get visas to migrate to the US. India got no cooperation whatsoever from US authorities. The government had approached the Delhi High Court seeking an order restraining the maid from filing any case against the diplomat. Simultaneously, an FIR was also lodged at the Fatehpuri Police Station in New Delhi against the domestic help. The External Affairs Ministry has made it clear that it had not made any compromise with the security of the US missions while taking some ‘reciprocal’ measures yesterday to downgrade privileges of American diplomats. ‘’There is no change in security situation as regards any diplomats, including US diplomats. We are fully committed to ensuring security of all diplomats, we will provide full safety and security within confines of the India law,’’ MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said. As far as the removal of barricades from outside the US embassy is concerned, it is learnt that India has been upset with the US since January when a parking lot in front of the Indian embassy in Washington was de-reserved and opened up for public without considering its implications for Indians working in the mission. New Delhi took up the matter repeatedly with the US administration but in vain. As a consequence, India had also removed barricades from outside the US embassy ‘to bring the system on parity terms’. (With agency inputs)
House rallies behind Devyani New Delhi, December 18 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh termed as "deplorable" the treatment meted out to her. The Prime Minister's remarks on the issue came soon after the government asserted in Parliament that India will take strong steps to ensure the return of the 39-year-old diplomat. “I am very confident that our message, a which is loud and clear, will be understood,” External affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said as he promised in Parliament to intervene “effectively and specifically” and bring back Devyani. “It is my responsibility. We will bring back the diplomat and restore her dignity. If I fail to do it, I will not return to this House,” he said. The issue rocked both Houses with an indignant Opposition accusing the Congress-led UPA of approaching the serious matter with a half-hearted attitude. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley termed the manner in which Devyani was apprehended a “matter of grave concern”. He said it was time India insisted on being treated like equals. "If we conduct foreign policy in a manner that we're taken for granted, then these incidents will be repeated. We need to introspect where we stand on foreign policy," he said. The retaliatory measures India has taken need to be continued, Jaitley said. BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said: “India has been insulted. There is a need to take more steps against US diplomats in India. The CPM asked India to get an assurance from the US that it would adhere to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations with regard to Indian diplomatic personnel in the country.
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