M A I N   N E W S

Diplomat’s Arrest in NY
Stop commercial activities at embassy: India to US 
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 8
Stepping up offensive against the US following the Devyani Khobragade episode, India has asked the US to discontinue commercial activities being undertaken from inside the embassy premises in Delhi by January 16. US diplomatic vehicles will also attract penalties for all traffic related offences such as unauthorised parking, jumping red light, dangerous driving, it is learnt.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, however, sought to play down the latest steps taken by New Delhi. "Reciprocity is an evolving process...we have only done what is reciprocal," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas function here.

There was no hostility in the actions initiated by New Delhi, Khurshid said. ''We had extended certain privileges to them (US Embassy which have now been withdrawn.''

The American side, meanwhile, is understood to have told New Delhi that it could not interfere with the Devyani issue since it was part of the legal process.

"'The Americans, it seems, are digging in their heels,'' a source here said.

US diplomats in India have always enjoyed a high degree of non-reciprocal privileges and facilitation. These include tax-free treatment of their nationals working in the American Embassy schools in New Delhi, extra privileges and immunities for their Consulate officials in Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad and approvals for extra staffing.

The US Embassy in New Delhi has long hosted full-scale commercial facilities within its compound, which included sale and service establishments that were open not only to non-US diplomats from third countries but to non-diplomatic personnel as well. Under the aegis of the American Community Support Association (ACSA), various facilities, including a restaurant/bar, video club, bowling alley, swimming pool, sports field, beauty parlour and gym were being run from inside the embassy premises.

This was a misuse of diplomatic privilege that was not extended by the US to others in their country, sources said.

Khobragade berates Bharara

Diplomat Devyani Khobragade has berated US Attorney Preet Bharara for publicly disclosing plea discussions underway to resolve the visa fraud case against her, saying it was a "distressingly calculated" move. Noting that the two sides had agreed not to make public the plea discussions, her lawyer Daniel Arshack gave a strong rejoinder to Bharara.