Indian diplomat row updates: IFS Association backs Devyani

New Delhi, Dec 18: Even as the country expresses its anger against the ill-treatment meted out to Indian Diplomat Devyani Khobragade in New York, the US on Wednesday maintained that it had 'acted appropriately and has not humiliated Khobragade.

10.10 pm: IFS Association backs Devyani Khobragade

9.30 pm: India reworking on the system of sending domestic helps to missions abroad (Read Hindu article)

[Read: Diplomat row shows govt's anti-Dalit mentality, says Mayawati]

8.30 pm: Devyani's father speaks to Times Now

We should not stop till charges are dropped and apology is rendered: Devyani Khobragade's father Uttam Khobragade tells Times Now. "I am satisfied but that is not sufficient," he told the news channel.

7.30 pm: Murli Manohar Joshi hits out at the US

Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Wednesday hit out at the US over the Khobragade episode, saying insulting the Indian passport was akin to insulting the national flag.

"The way the Indian diplomat was ill-treated and handcuffed in public, and even forced to take off her clothes, shows they have no respect for Indian citizens in US," he said. "It is surprising that US, which says India is its strategic partner as well as supportive friend, ill-treated an Indian diplomat in such a manner," Joshi said. (PTI inputs)

7.00 pm: Broke down several times, says Khobragade

Khobragade said she broke down many times after being repeatedly handcuffed and subjected to stripping, cavity searches and swabbing while being put in jail with common criminals and drug addicts.

5:30 pm: US planned Devyani's arrest, says MEA:

Speaking about controversial arrest of Indian diplomat Devyani's arrest, Ministry of External Affair (MEA) officials claimed that US came up with a fool proofed plan before arresting the woman diplomat.

5:00 pm: India transfers Devyani to New York to ensure her immunity:

India transfers Devyani Khobragade to the Indian permanent mission to United Nations. The latest move seems to be a measure to ensure diplomatic immunity to Devyani.

4:40 pm: Devyani's domestic help's family leaves for US:

Family of Devyani Khobragade's domestic help leaves for the US on valid visas.

2.25 pm: Protests break outside US Embassy

Protests break outside US Embassy over the ill treatment meted out to Indian Diplomat Devyani Khobragade. Many people took to the streets, raising slogans against United States.

Protestors said that US should apologise and must withdraw complaints against Devyani.

2pm: Devyani's father says more has to be done

Devyani Khobragade's father told Times Now that he was happy with the actions taken by the Indian government. "I am happy with the Indian government's action but more needs to be done," he said.

1.35 pm: Manmohan Singh says diplomat row 'deplorable.'

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that the treatment meted out to Devyani was 'deplorable'.

12.43 pm: Salman Khurshid says nation must speak in one voice

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid today said that the nation must come together on Devyani's issue. "We must speak in one voice," he said. He said that whatever has to be done was being done with the sincerest national interest.

"We have reacted immediately and taken steps," he said. He also said that India was not overreacting to the whole issue and said that there was a 'conspiracy in which Deputy Consul General was virtually trapped.'

11.20 am: Diplomat issue raked up in Rajya Sabha

BJP leader Arun Jaitley today said that 'our stand in the issue shows our soft diplomacy. "Time for India to take a strong stand on such bilateral issue," he said. He als said that the government needed to analyse where we stand on foreign policy

BSP leader Mayawati said: "The Centre should have reacted on this so late. We are outraged as Dalits, this woman belongs to the weaker section of the society. The government delayed action on this as she was a Dalit'" she said.

10.11 am: US maintains a defensive stand

US Human Rights has maintained their counrty's stand saying that 'handcuffs and strip search are a common practise.'

9.45 am: Devyani confirms strip search

Accroding to TV reports, Indian Diplomat Devyani Khobragade confirmed that she was 'handcuffed and strip searched.'

Devyani told her IFS colleagues that she was held with common criminals and drug addicts. In a mail to her colleagues, she said that she broke down several times when she was arrested.

Reports also suggest that she was subjected to cavity search, a procedure normally used for criminal.

9.15 am: US appeals to India to uphold Vienna Convention

US appeals to India to uphold the Vienna convention principles and also appealed to the country to ensure the safety of the diplomats staying in the country. State Department Deputy spokesperson Marie Harf told reporters: "We have conveyed at high levels to the government of India our expectation that India will continue to to fulfill all its obligations."

8 am: US says it followed proper procedure

The US Marshal Service today agreed to have conducted a strip search on Khobragade on Dec 12, during her arrest. US Marshals office in a statement said: "Devyani was held in a cell and subjected to the same procedure as other arrestees."

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