India warns U.S. of impact on ties after re-indictment of Indian woman diplomat - Xinhua | English.news.cn
English.news.cn 2014-03-15 19:06:37
India warns U.S. of impact on ties after re-indictment of Indian woman diplomat
NEW DELHI, March 15 (Xinhua) -- India Saturday strongly reacted to the second indictment against its diplomat Devyani Khobragade in the United States, saying it was an "unnecessary" step and any measure consequent to the decision will "unfortunately" impact upon efforts on both sides to India-U.S. strategic partnership.
A spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry said the court in the United States has no jurisdiction in India over her and the government will therefore no longer engage on this case in the U.S. legal system.
"We are disappointed that the relevant office of the United States Department of Justice chose to obtain a second indictment against Devyani Khobragade, despite the fact that the first indictment and arrest warrant were dismissed earlier this week," the spokesperson said.
"This was an unnecessary step...We reiterate that the case has no merit. Therefore this second indictment has no impact on our stated position. Now that Dr. Khobragade has returned to India, the court in the U.S. has no jurisdiction in India over her. Government will, therefore, no longer engage on this case in the U. S. legal system," he added.
Dashing hopes of a closure of the Devyani Khobragade affair, an American prosecutor, Preet Bharara, has secured a fresh indictment of the Indian diplomat at the center of a major India-U.S. diplomatic row three months ago.
Two days after a New York judge dismissed the visa fraud case against Khobragade, India's then consul general in New York, a U. S. grand jury Friday again indicted her on same criminal charges.
Khobragade, 38, was accused of fraud and was arrested before being expelled by the United States after being formally charged.
The issue led to a diplomatic mini-crisis between New Delhi and Washington. India retaliated by expelling one U.S. diplomat and reducing privileges of U.S. missions here.
Fresh indictment against Devyani unnecessary: MEA - The Hindu
India has warned that the step could ``unfortunately impact'' bilateral ties with the United States.
After a few weeks when the Indo-US relations appeared to be getting back on course, the second indictment in New York against woman diplomat Devyani Khobragade has caused it to slide, with India warning that the step could ``unfortunately impact'' bilateral ties.
The Government has also decided not to engage on this case in the U.S. legal system anymore, because as far as India is concerned, the case has no merit.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin described as an ``unnecessary step,'' a U.S. Department of Justice office opting for a second indictment against Dr. Khobragade despite the fact that the first indictment and arrest warrant were dismissed earlier this week.
``Any measures consequent to this decision in the US will unfortunately impact upon efforts on both sides to build the India-US strategic partnership, to which both sides are committed,'' he added.
``Therefore this second indictment has no impact on our stated position. Now that Dr. Khobragade has returned to India, the Court in the U.S. has no jurisdiction in India over her,'' he stated.
Two days back, India had given a guarded response to a US court's dismissal of fraud charges against Dr. Khobragade. It had welcomed the dismissal but noted that the order did not take into account some aspects of the case that led to a cooling off of bilateral ties for three months.
``We welcome this ruling, which dismisses the January 9 indictment against Khobragade and vacates any arrest warrant in the existing case,’’ Mr. Syed Akbaruddin had said.
``We note that the judgment does not consider the merits of the case or our well-known position, including on the admissibility of the arrest of Devyani Khobragade in December 2013. Given the importance both sides attach to their bilateral strategic partnership, [the] Government hopes to see further progress in this matter in a manner consistent with international norms and conventions,’’ Mr. Akbaruddin had said in a written statement. The Hindu had said India qualified its welcome because the suit against Dr. Khobragade was dismissed but under US laws, prosecutors are allowed to bring fresh charges in future.
The arrest and search of Dr. Khobragade on December 12 led to sharp downturn in Indo-US ties with New Delhi pulling off all extra privileges given to US diplomats and going by the book, asked it to shut down an unlicensed cinema screening facility, removed security bollards and withdrew special airport entry passes.
This was followed by senior Government functionaries and politicians declining to meet a bi-party US Congressional delegation that had come to the country in January. Officials and political leaders also did not turn up at functions where they would have to share the stage with US Ambassador Nancy Powell. The issue also came up in Parliament where External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid promised he would get Dr. Khobragade back home.
Earlier this month, structured bilateral dialogue restarted with the arrival of the US State Department's new points-person for the region Neha Biswal. This was followed by a week long Indo-US dialogue on energy which was capped by a meeting between US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.
New U.S. charges against diplomat rile India - latimes.com
MUMBAI, India — The Indian government Saturday expressed its displeasure with the U.S. Justice Department for refiling criminal charges against a diplomat whose arrest in New York last year on charges of underpaying her domestic help caused a crisis in bilateral relations.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan on Friday issued a new indictment against the diplomat, Devyani Khobragade, just two days after a judge dismissed a similar indictment on diplomatic immunity grounds. Khobragade has returned to India and is unlikely ever to answer the charges in New York.
Foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin called the new indictment “an unnecessary step” that would cause further trouble between Washington and New Delhi.
“Any measures consequent to this decision in the U.S. will unfortunately impact upon efforts on both sides to build the India-U.S. strategic partnership, to which both sides are committed,” Akbaruddin said in a statement.
India has maintained that the case against Khobragade has no merit. The 39-year-old diplomat, who was serving as deputy consul general at the Indian mission in New York, was arrested in December after her Indian housekeeper accused her of paying her far below the minimum wage.
Prosecutors said Khobragade lied to U.S. authorities to obtain a work visa for the housekeeper, claiming she was paying her about $500 a month while actually paying her less than $3 an hour. Khobragade disputed the charges, citing diplomatic immunity.
But when U.S. marshals strip-searched Khobragade and held her in detention alongside other prisoners, Indian officials vehemently complained that she had been mistreated. The incident stirred up long-simmering mistrust between Washington and New Delhi as Indian officials accused the United States of arrogance and imposed retaliatory restrictions on Americans in the Indian capital.
The U.S. attorney in Manhattan, Preet Bharara, maintained that Khobragade was treated in accordance with the law and given some privileges that American arrestees wouldn’t get, such as being allowed extra time to make phone calls and arrange care for her two children, who remain in the United States.
The dispute caused headaches for the State Department and led Nisha Desai Biswal, the assistant secretary of State for South Asia, to cancel a planned visit to India. Biswal traveled to New Delhi last week and sounded a conciliatory note, saying the case "touched an emotional nerve in this country, for very understandable reasons."
On Jan. 9, the day before Khobragade was indicted, India assigned her to its U.N. mission, a role with broader diplomatic immunity than her consular position, and brought her back to New Delhi. U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin ruled Wednesday that the new position granted her immunity from prosecution but left the door open for prosecutors to file a new indictment because her immunity ended when she left the United States.
Akbaruddin, the foreign ministry spokesman, said that as far as India was concerned the case was closed.
“Now that Dr. Khobragade has returned to India, the court in the United States has no jurisdiction in India over her,” he said. “[The Indian] government will therefore no longer engage on this case in the United States’ legal system.”
http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-india-says-its-disappointed-by-new-us-charges-against-devyani-khobragade-20140315,0,7522593.story#ixzz2w3GtEtbx
English.news.cn 2014-03-15 19:06:37
India warns U.S. of impact on ties after re-indictment of Indian woman diplomat
NEW DELHI, March 15 (Xinhua) -- India Saturday strongly reacted to the second indictment against its diplomat Devyani Khobragade in the United States, saying it was an "unnecessary" step and any measure consequent to the decision will "unfortunately" impact upon efforts on both sides to India-U.S. strategic partnership.
A spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry said the court in the United States has no jurisdiction in India over her and the government will therefore no longer engage on this case in the U.S. legal system.
"We are disappointed that the relevant office of the United States Department of Justice chose to obtain a second indictment against Devyani Khobragade, despite the fact that the first indictment and arrest warrant were dismissed earlier this week," the spokesperson said.
"This was an unnecessary step...We reiterate that the case has no merit. Therefore this second indictment has no impact on our stated position. Now that Dr. Khobragade has returned to India, the court in the U.S. has no jurisdiction in India over her. Government will, therefore, no longer engage on this case in the U. S. legal system," he added.
Dashing hopes of a closure of the Devyani Khobragade affair, an American prosecutor, Preet Bharara, has secured a fresh indictment of the Indian diplomat at the center of a major India-U.S. diplomatic row three months ago.
Two days after a New York judge dismissed the visa fraud case against Khobragade, India's then consul general in New York, a U. S. grand jury Friday again indicted her on same criminal charges.
Khobragade, 38, was accused of fraud and was arrested before being expelled by the United States after being formally charged.
The issue led to a diplomatic mini-crisis between New Delhi and Washington. India retaliated by expelling one U.S. diplomat and reducing privileges of U.S. missions here.
Fresh indictment against Devyani unnecessary: MEA - The Hindu
India has warned that the step could ``unfortunately impact'' bilateral ties with the United States.
After a few weeks when the Indo-US relations appeared to be getting back on course, the second indictment in New York against woman diplomat Devyani Khobragade has caused it to slide, with India warning that the step could ``unfortunately impact'' bilateral ties.
The Government has also decided not to engage on this case in the U.S. legal system anymore, because as far as India is concerned, the case has no merit.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin described as an ``unnecessary step,'' a U.S. Department of Justice office opting for a second indictment against Dr. Khobragade despite the fact that the first indictment and arrest warrant were dismissed earlier this week.
``Any measures consequent to this decision in the US will unfortunately impact upon efforts on both sides to build the India-US strategic partnership, to which both sides are committed,'' he added.
``Therefore this second indictment has no impact on our stated position. Now that Dr. Khobragade has returned to India, the Court in the U.S. has no jurisdiction in India over her,'' he stated.
Two days back, India had given a guarded response to a US court's dismissal of fraud charges against Dr. Khobragade. It had welcomed the dismissal but noted that the order did not take into account some aspects of the case that led to a cooling off of bilateral ties for three months.
``We welcome this ruling, which dismisses the January 9 indictment against Khobragade and vacates any arrest warrant in the existing case,’’ Mr. Syed Akbaruddin had said.
``We note that the judgment does not consider the merits of the case or our well-known position, including on the admissibility of the arrest of Devyani Khobragade in December 2013. Given the importance both sides attach to their bilateral strategic partnership, [the] Government hopes to see further progress in this matter in a manner consistent with international norms and conventions,’’ Mr. Akbaruddin had said in a written statement. The Hindu had said India qualified its welcome because the suit against Dr. Khobragade was dismissed but under US laws, prosecutors are allowed to bring fresh charges in future.
The arrest and search of Dr. Khobragade on December 12 led to sharp downturn in Indo-US ties with New Delhi pulling off all extra privileges given to US diplomats and going by the book, asked it to shut down an unlicensed cinema screening facility, removed security bollards and withdrew special airport entry passes.
This was followed by senior Government functionaries and politicians declining to meet a bi-party US Congressional delegation that had come to the country in January. Officials and political leaders also did not turn up at functions where they would have to share the stage with US Ambassador Nancy Powell. The issue also came up in Parliament where External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid promised he would get Dr. Khobragade back home.
Earlier this month, structured bilateral dialogue restarted with the arrival of the US State Department's new points-person for the region Neha Biswal. This was followed by a week long Indo-US dialogue on energy which was capped by a meeting between US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.
New U.S. charges against diplomat rile India - latimes.com
MUMBAI, India — The Indian government Saturday expressed its displeasure with the U.S. Justice Department for refiling criminal charges against a diplomat whose arrest in New York last year on charges of underpaying her domestic help caused a crisis in bilateral relations.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan on Friday issued a new indictment against the diplomat, Devyani Khobragade, just two days after a judge dismissed a similar indictment on diplomatic immunity grounds. Khobragade has returned to India and is unlikely ever to answer the charges in New York.
Foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin called the new indictment “an unnecessary step” that would cause further trouble between Washington and New Delhi.
“Any measures consequent to this decision in the U.S. will unfortunately impact upon efforts on both sides to build the India-U.S. strategic partnership, to which both sides are committed,” Akbaruddin said in a statement.
India has maintained that the case against Khobragade has no merit. The 39-year-old diplomat, who was serving as deputy consul general at the Indian mission in New York, was arrested in December after her Indian housekeeper accused her of paying her far below the minimum wage.
Prosecutors said Khobragade lied to U.S. authorities to obtain a work visa for the housekeeper, claiming she was paying her about $500 a month while actually paying her less than $3 an hour. Khobragade disputed the charges, citing diplomatic immunity.
But when U.S. marshals strip-searched Khobragade and held her in detention alongside other prisoners, Indian officials vehemently complained that she had been mistreated. The incident stirred up long-simmering mistrust between Washington and New Delhi as Indian officials accused the United States of arrogance and imposed retaliatory restrictions on Americans in the Indian capital.
The U.S. attorney in Manhattan, Preet Bharara, maintained that Khobragade was treated in accordance with the law and given some privileges that American arrestees wouldn’t get, such as being allowed extra time to make phone calls and arrange care for her two children, who remain in the United States.
The dispute caused headaches for the State Department and led Nisha Desai Biswal, the assistant secretary of State for South Asia, to cancel a planned visit to India. Biswal traveled to New Delhi last week and sounded a conciliatory note, saying the case "touched an emotional nerve in this country, for very understandable reasons."
On Jan. 9, the day before Khobragade was indicted, India assigned her to its U.N. mission, a role with broader diplomatic immunity than her consular position, and brought her back to New Delhi. U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin ruled Wednesday that the new position granted her immunity from prosecution but left the door open for prosecutors to file a new indictment because her immunity ended when she left the United States.
Akbaruddin, the foreign ministry spokesman, said that as far as India was concerned the case was closed.
“Now that Dr. Khobragade has returned to India, the court in the United States has no jurisdiction in India over her,” he said. “[The Indian] government will therefore no longer engage on this case in the United States’ legal system.”
http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-india-says-its-disappointed-by-new-us-charges-against-devyani-khobragade-20140315,0,7522593.story#ixzz2w3GtEtbx
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