India will take action against American Embassy School.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: The US and India are set to conduct talks with the objective of preventing further incidents like the one that rocked their relationship, involving Indian Deputy Consul General Devyani Khobragade.
The announcement of the pending talks was made by Salman Khurshid, India’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the Lok Sabha, in which he said that talks “will be held as soon as a mutually agreed agenda and convenient dates for meeting are finalized.”
Khurshid specified that the talks will definitely touch upon exactly what privileges should be given to foreign diplomats and consular offices in their countries, what rights Khobragade had at the time of her arrest and are still entitled to, and the manner in which Khobragade was arrested.
Echoing a sentiment shared by many, however, Khurshid said that there is absolutely no reason to believe that the Khobragade incident would dissolve an otherwise solid relationship between the US and India, calling it just a “single issue” in the complex dynamic between the two democracies.
“At the same time both sides have agreed to continue to implement other programmes of bilateral cooperation,” said Khurshid.
Khurshid said that, as of right now, special privileges and immunities have been suspended for officers from foreign countries stationed in India. Additionally, day-to-day arrangements are negotiated between India and each respective country, an effort to crack down on what foreign countries are doing with their envoys in India.
Also in regards other nations’ activities in India, Khurshid said his country will be taking the appropriate action against the American Embassy School in New Delhi, saying that they are waiting to hear about certain info regarding the school before taking a decisive step.
The American Embassy School is at the center of a controversy regarding allegations of improper filing of visas for its faculty, particularly females, as well are purported tax frauds that have cost the Indian government a significant amount of revenue.
To contact the author, email to deepakchitnis@americanbazaaronline.com