Indian diplomat Arrest – Decoding the Political Unrest!

It is No first Time but Why Such A retaliation, Let’s Try and Understand!!!

Devyani Khobragade the consulate general at Indian Embassy in US was arrested in a completely undignified manner and what followed next was just complete violation of all diplomatic agreements.

How can the US authorities be so insensitive and unprofessional to handcuff a diplomat on roads while she was dropping her kids to school? Now the state department is passing balls to the US Marshall's telling that they would be better to comment on what transpired.

So does that mean that US marshals perform operations concerning diplomats in complete isolation with state department? In that case who owes the responsibility of ensuring that proper courtesies are offered to designated personals?

State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said, "We understand that this is a sensitive issue for many in India. Accordingly, we are looking into the intake procedures surrounding this arrest to ensure that all appropriate procedures were followed and every opportunity for courtesy was extended.”

Indeed the irony is Devyani herself has said in an email sent to Indian Government that she was subjected to stripping and cavity searches. Now does Strip Searching a foreign diplomat is what the US State Department considers as Courtesies?

State department spokesperson says that such isolated incidents should not affect the bilateral relationship between the two nations. Indeed it wouldn’t have, given just the timing would have been different.

It is not the first time that US Government has gone overboard in humiliating the Indian personals and move away with it. Surely it is India’s unresponsiveness that has always encouraged the US government to continue with their usual misbehavior on the name of security and law enforcement.

Not much ago former President APJ Abdul Kalam was made to take off his shoes at a US airport search, even after he has boarded the aircraft, though India didn't do much for it. Not much was heard when Indian ambassador Meera Shankar was given a "pat down" at another airport. India didn't even moan when India's permanent representative to the UN Hardeep Puri was asked to take off his turban at an airport.

So the question that comes to mind is quite natural, why such a show of vigour this time?

You can again owe it to media frenzy. India this time is boiling with anger. Finally the largest democracy has taken it as a bolt on its pride. Undoubtedly pressure for a tough retaliation is much unless the ruling party again wants to come out as weak and ineffective. Stripping all US diplomats of their ID cards and removal of Barricades from US consulate in New Delhi is something that US government would have never expected for such incident.

Such steps were very much needed to bring out the equilibrium. US always seem to redefines diplomatic immunity to suit their convenience. Foreign diplomats are subject to frisking by them in US where as US diplomats when travelling to other countries demand a free pass from being frisked and body searched.

But this time the story is completely different actually the timing of the incident changes all the perspective in which this case needs to be dealt. Ruling party of India, Indian National Congress is already much criticized for a weak stand on China and Pakistan. Now after a tragic defeat in four states in recent assembly election what they want first is to shed-off all the notions of a weak government. Though its easier said than done. Keeping in mind the coming elections in the months of March-April 2014, a weak response to a matter of national pride would be last thing that this UPA alliance can afford.

Anyhow going by the previous experiences Nations Pride is though the last thing on Congress Governments list of priorities. But at the end of the day the number of Votes is what matters most and with elections right on head, every matter would be dealt in a completely different manner then as in past 5 years.

Be it the Lokpal which saw a sudden change of heart in all political parties or this current Diplomatic brawl.

Nevertheless, it sounds insane to believe that two world powers are locking horns over the misuse of a servant by an individual. An issue of quite a few dollars are shaking the two big economies of the world. But the blame is upon United States of America for carrying out the dramatized arrest. It is not civilized to arrest a well respected diplomat while she drops her kids at school, handcuffing her, stripping her and then later locking her up in a prison cell with other criminals and drug addicts.

Devyani Khobragade is not guilty until proven so. The harassment meted out to her is not acceptable. It seems US has made a mockery of its diplomatic relationship with its so called ally.

I don’t understand the credibility of strip searching a victim of financial fraud. Like how does looking beneath the clothes matter unless it is a matter of drugs at least? What kind of civilization United States of America boosts of when such draconian practices are followed under the name of law enforcement?

This incident sends a very poor message about US hospitality towards foreign citizens on its soil.

Anyhow the current retaliation was much needed and appreciable, it is time to clearly import the message of changing time and making it clear that a bilateral relationship can only thrive over mutual appraisal and honor.

India is a strong country with weak government; it is a fact that cannot be ignored. It is our leadership only which have made ourselves vulnerable to such assaults. The time has changed, the status that India enjoyed during regime of George Bush is a thing of past. Obama’s second term has not been very friendly for the country. It is time to rethink the relationship from this side as well. The incident sounds too fishy as well from the way it has been carried out, their may be indeed some other side of the story.

It takes two to make a sound. India or for that matter of fact no any nuclear powered self-sufficient nation in modern world is much dependent on any other one, let it be a superpower or just anything. It is high time we reconsider the pacts and re-plan a relation of compromises.

Finally, the question that remains unanswered is that in cases of its overseas nationals what should be expected from a government that couldn't even save the pride of its diplomat? Indeed much needs to be done and better sooner than later.

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Author & Editor

An Engineer by qualification, a blogger by choice and an enterprenur by interest. Loves to read and write and explore new places and people.