MEA calls Dutch envoy, protests detentions

The 12 Indians were not arrested because of any racial bias: Ambassador.

Following the detention of 12 Indians by the Dutch authorities in Amsterdam over suspect behaviour on board a Mumbai-bound flight, the external affairs ministry today summoned the Dutch ambassador to convey unhappiness over the incident.

Hours after the release of the Mumbai residents, Secretary (West) Shashi U Tripathy called Dutch Ambassador Eric Niehe.

"Our views have been conveyed at the highest level to the Dutch government," Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said.

Sources said the Dutch ambassador was understood to have told Indian officials that the 12 Indians were not detained because of any racial bias but because they aroused suspicion by not obeying the flight rules. The Dutch authorities have kept their baggage, including laptops and hard disc drives, for further investigations.

"Ambassador Eric Niehe was told that the incident was not in conformity with the friendly relations between the Netherlands and India," said a foreign ministry official.

The ambassador reportedly told the secretary that he would find out the details of the incident and report back to the ministry.

Sharma said the government had sought a report from the Indian ambassador in The Hague and the entire issue would be analysed once that came.

Rejecting criticism of the government's handling of the issue, Sharma said the official machinery got into action and ensured that the detainees were out in just 30 hours and got consular access much ahead of the 48 hours stipulated in the Vienna Convention.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna said the Indian businessmen were debriefed by the Charge d'affaires during a two-hour session and were assured of their release and safe return home.

The BJP today said government should seek an apology from the Netherlands for the detention of the 12 Indian passengers.

"The government of India is required to intervene and seek an apology from the Dutch authorities for this highly condemnable act of racial profiling against its people," BJP Vice- President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.