India hoped that the United States will understand its loud and clear message over the arrest and ill treatment meted out to Diplomat Devyani Khobragade. The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh deplored the treatment meted out to the diplomat.
Talking to reporters outside Parliament, Dr. Singh termed the incident as deplorable.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said, the treatment meted out to the diplomat is very discomforting.
Earlier, both the Houses of Parliament expressed outrage over the issue.
Making a statement in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Khurshid said, the government fully stands by the lady diplomat. He said, the diplomat was a victim of conspiracy by her maid servant who has been absconding.
Cutting across party lines, members of both the Houses expressed their anguish over the US action against the diplomat.
They asked the government to register the strongest possible protest. In the Lok Sabha, SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav suggested adopting a strong resolution by the House on the issue.
Echoing similar sentiments, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj urged the government to take up the release of Captain Sunil James, who is in Togo jail.
The Rajya Sabha suspended the question hour to take the issue. Leader of Opposition, Arun Jaitley expressed concern over the ill-treatment of the woman officer, saying this involved the national honour.
He said the arrest was arbitrary and in contravention of the Vienna Convention. BSP Chief Mayawati took strong exception to the searches of the diplomat by US marshals and said it was highly insulting.
Meanwhile, Khobragade has been shifted to India’s Permanent Mission to UN, to enable her to get fuller diplomatic immunity.