The arrest of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade by US officials on December 12 has set off a diplomatic firestorm that threaten to affect Indo-US ties.
Khobragade was arrested for visa fraud and was reportedly strip-searched and made to spend a night in a jail cell with common criminals, which India claims is a violation of her diplomatic immunity. She was later released on a bail bond of US$250,000.
As India clamours for an apology from the US officials, it has put into place several retaliatory measures. Here are some of them.
1) India gives the US embassy till January 20 to stop screening movies without a licence.
The American Centre in Delhi regularly screens movies, apparently without a licence. The Indian government sent a notice to the cultural organisation about the transgression, telling it to get a licence if it wants to screen movies.
2) India blocks cheap booze for US diplomats
Within a week of Khobragade's arrest, India withdrew import licences that allowed the commissary at the US embassy to import alcohol and food at lower duties.
3) Indian government issues new ID cards to consular officials, and withdraws immunity for their families
The new identity cards limit the diplomatic immunity of American consular officials. They can be arrested for serious offences. Relatives of consular officials no longer enjoy diplomatic immunity of any sort, and can be punished for even minor offences, like parking violations.
4) India plans to shut down the American embassy club in Delhi
The American Community Support Association, popularly known as the American embassy club, has a restaurant, a swimming pool, a soccer field, besides a host of other facilities used by American diplomats and US nationals in India.
The Indian government plans to give the the US a deadline of 10 days to give Khobragade a G1 visa that will grant her full diplomatic immunity, failing which the ACSA will be shut down.
5) Members of the Republican Party of India vandalise a Domino's pizza outlet
On December 20, protesters ransacked a Domino's Pizza outlet in Mumbai, demanding a ban on US goods until the US government apologised for Khobragade's mistreatment. The Dalit group sent pictures to media organisations showing a broken glass door.
Khobragade was arrested for visa fraud and was reportedly strip-searched and made to spend a night in a jail cell with common criminals, which India claims is a violation of her diplomatic immunity. She was later released on a bail bond of US$250,000.
As India clamours for an apology from the US officials, it has put into place several retaliatory measures. Here are some of them.
1) India gives the US embassy till January 20 to stop screening movies without a licence.
The American Centre in Delhi regularly screens movies, apparently without a licence. The Indian government sent a notice to the cultural organisation about the transgression, telling it to get a licence if it wants to screen movies.
2) India blocks cheap booze for US diplomats
Within a week of Khobragade's arrest, India withdrew import licences that allowed the commissary at the US embassy to import alcohol and food at lower duties.
3) Indian government issues new ID cards to consular officials, and withdraws immunity for their families
The new identity cards limit the diplomatic immunity of American consular officials. They can be arrested for serious offences. Relatives of consular officials no longer enjoy diplomatic immunity of any sort, and can be punished for even minor offences, like parking violations.
4) India plans to shut down the American embassy club in Delhi
The American Community Support Association, popularly known as the American embassy club, has a restaurant, a swimming pool, a soccer field, besides a host of other facilities used by American diplomats and US nationals in India.
The Indian government plans to give the the US a deadline of 10 days to give Khobragade a G1 visa that will grant her full diplomatic immunity, failing which the ACSA will be shut down.
5) Members of the Republican Party of India vandalise a Domino's pizza outlet
On December 20, protesters ransacked a Domino's Pizza outlet in Mumbai, demanding a ban on US goods until the US government apologised for Khobragade's mistreatment. The Dalit group sent pictures to media organisations showing a broken glass door.
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