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Devyani Khobragade row: India demands US apology | Devyani Khobragade row: India demands US apology |
(about 20 hours later) | |
India has demanded an apology from the US over the treatment of one of its diplomats who was arrested in New York last week on suspicion of visa fraud. | India has demanded an apology from the US over the treatment of one of its diplomats who was arrested in New York last week on suspicion of visa fraud. |
Government minister Kamal Nath urged the US to admit it had made a mistake. | |
US Secretary of State John Kerry's expression of "regret" over the incident was not enough, he said. | US Secretary of State John Kerry's expression of "regret" over the incident was not enough, he said. |
Deputy consul general Devyani Khobragade denies visa fraud and making false statements, after being accused of underpaying her Indian maid. | Deputy consul general Devyani Khobragade denies visa fraud and making false statements, after being accused of underpaying her Indian maid. |
She was handcuffed and strip-searched last week - her arrest and alleged "humiliation" has led to a major diplomatic row between India and the US. | She was handcuffed and strip-searched last week - her arrest and alleged "humiliation" has led to a major diplomatic row between India and the US. |
Ms Khobragade appeared in a Manhattan court last Friday and was freed on a $250,000 (£153,000) bail. She has in turn accused the maid, Sangeeta Richard, of theft and attempting to blackmail her. | Ms Khobragade appeared in a Manhattan court last Friday and was freed on a $250,000 (£153,000) bail. She has in turn accused the maid, Sangeeta Richard, of theft and attempting to blackmail her. |
Delhi has ordered a series of reprisals against the US. Security barricades around the US embassy in the city were removed and a visiting US delegation was snubbed by senior Indian politicians and officials. | Delhi has ordered a series of reprisals against the US. Security barricades around the US embassy in the city were removed and a visiting US delegation was snubbed by senior Indian politicians and officials. |
'Not acceptable' | 'Not acceptable' |
On Wednesday, Mr Kerry spoke to Indian National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, who had described the treatment as "despicable and barbaric". | On Wednesday, Mr Kerry spoke to Indian National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, who had described the treatment as "despicable and barbaric". |
He said the "unfortunate" incident should not damage US-Indian relations. | He said the "unfortunate" incident should not damage US-Indian relations. |
But on Thursday, India said nothing short of an apology would suffice. | But on Thursday, India said nothing short of an apology would suffice. |
"They should admit that they have committed a mistake and only then will we be satisfied," Mr Nath said. | "They should admit that they have committed a mistake and only then will we be satisfied," Mr Nath said. |
On Wednesday, angry MPs from several Indian parties called on the government to take tough action against the US and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described Ms Khobragade's treatment as "deplorable". | On Wednesday, angry MPs from several Indian parties called on the government to take tough action against the US and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described Ms Khobragade's treatment as "deplorable". |
But US prosecutor Preet Bharara said in a statement that Ms Khobragade "was accorded courtesies well beyond what other defendants, most of whom are American citizens, are accorded". | But US prosecutor Preet Bharara said in a statement that Ms Khobragade "was accorded courtesies well beyond what other defendants, most of whom are American citizens, are accorded". |
According to documents filed in a federal court in New York, Ms Khobragade wrote on a visa application that the maid would be paid $4,500 (£2,746) a month. | According to documents filed in a federal court in New York, Ms Khobragade wrote on a visa application that the maid would be paid $4,500 (£2,746) a month. |
But investigators said she instead paid only $573 per month - less than the New York state minimum wage. | But investigators said she instead paid only $573 per month - less than the New York state minimum wage. |
If found guilty, Ms Khobragade faces a maximum sentence of 10 years for visa fraud and five years for making false statements. | If found guilty, Ms Khobragade faces a maximum sentence of 10 years for visa fraud and five years for making false statements. |
The US state department said that Ms Khobragade did not have full diplomatic immunity at the time of the alleged offences. | The US state department said that Ms Khobragade did not have full diplomatic immunity at the time of the alleged offences. |
It said under the UN's Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, she is immune from arrest only for crimes committed in connection with her work. | It said under the UN's Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, she is immune from arrest only for crimes committed in connection with her work. |