Poor get poorer
As always, given the inequities built into the global economic system, the poorest people in the world have been the…
STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
New Delhi, 31 December
The US ambassador to India, Ms Nancy Powell, in her New Year message today expressed “regret” over the way in which Indian diplomat Ms Devyani Khobragade was arrested and jailed for alleged visa fraud and for violating US labour laws.
In her message, Ms Powell said the forward movement in Indo-US relations has been “jolted by the very different reactions to issues involving one of your consular officers and her domestic worker.” “I join Secretary (of State John) Kerry in expressing our regret for the circumstances of the consular officer’s arrest,” she said. “But we believe that we can look forward to continuing to expand our bilateral relations,” she added.
Ms Khobragade was arrested in New York earlier this month on charges of alleged visa fraud and was later strip-searched. India reacted sharply to the manner in which Ms Khobragade was ‘humiliated’ and has demanded an apology from the USA and the dropping of all charges against her.
However, the latest indications coming from the US side is that they are unwilling to drop the charges against Ms Khobragade.
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