This refers to the arrest and humiliation of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade on charges of visa fraud by US officials. Every time a citizen of the country is harassed or humiliated, the government sends a 'strongly worded' letter and the matter ends. It is a welcome relief that, at last, wiser counsel prevailed and India took retaliatory measures. The repetition of such incidents at regular intervals suggests that other countries give scant regard to our letters.
It would be interesting to imagine the reaction of the US administration if a US diplomat had faced a similar situation in India. The government's counter-attack in this case, though belated, may have many cascading effects but we cannot compromise on the dignity of the nation and its citizens at any cost. We should also generate international opinion about such reprehensible acts by a country which claims to be the most liberal in the world. If there is a worldwide protest in solidarity to India, US administration will have no alternative but to mend its ways.
E M Adithyan Edapal
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