Indian police have removed security barriers outside the US Embassy in New Delhi and asked US consular officers to return their identity cards in retaliation for the arrest and strip search of an Indian diplomat in New York last week.
The diplomatic spat was triggered by the arrest of Devyani Khobragade, a deputy consul general at the Indian Consulate in New York, on charges of visa fraud and making false statements last week.
But in a further sign of escalating tensions between the two nations, Rahul Gandhi, Congress party vice-president, and federal home minister Sushilkumar Shinde, have boycotted a visiting US delegation by refusing to meet the five-member mission in protest.
Ms Khobragade was arrested for allegedly underpaying her housekeeper, who is also an Indian national, and for lying on the housekeeper’s visa application form.
Anger has mounted among politicians in the nation’s capital after reports emerged its diplomat was strip-searched, handcuffed, had her DNA swab taken and locked up with “drug addicts and common criminals”, the Times of India reported.
In a rare show of hardened attitudes toward the US amid imminent general elections, the Indian government has also stopped all import clearances for the US embassy, including liquor.
It has also requested the salary details and bank accounts of all Indian staff employed at US consulates, including domestic help employed by diplomats’ families.
The Times of India reported the move may “be a precursor to reviewing their (US diplomats) immunity and benefits”.
The opposition Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has come out in support of the government’s action.
“Refused to meet the visiting US delegation in solidarity with our nation, protesting ill-treatment meted to our lady diplomat in USA,” Narendra Modi, the prime ministerial candidate for the BJP, tweeted yesterday.
The row has also again brought the issue of fair pay into the spotlight.
BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said India could arrest US diplomats having same-sex relationships following the re-criminalisation of homosexuality in the country last week.
“After the Supreme Court ruling, it is complete illegal in our country. Just as paying less wages was illegal in the US, so, why doesn’t the government of India go ahead and arrest all of them?” he said yesterday.
On Tuesday New Delhi police dragged away concrete traffic barricades from the roads past the US embassy and leading up to the grounds of the compound.
“This is retaliation for the arrest of Khobragade and for strip searching her,” a senior police officer at the embassy told SBS on the condition of anonymity.
“The orders were given by Delhi police.”
Meanwhile, security appeared still tight at the embassy on Wednesday morning.
Delhi police, traffic officers and the embassy’s private security were all present.
Khobragade pleaded not guilty to both charges and was released on $250,000 bail.
If convicted, she faces a maximum of 15 years in jail.
