(Pics) Khobragade case: An eye for an eye; what India did!

Updated: Saturday, January 11, 2014, 12:00 [IST]

New Delhi, Jan 11: The Devyani Khobragade case is taking nasty turns by the day. It is getting complicated, sometimes jeopardising the diplomatic relations between both the countries. Till now, America has been submissive in its demeanour, yet unapologetic, and India aggressive and desperate for revenge (especially after reports of the expelled US diplomat). India has been attacking and re-attacking the united states in many ways, lashing out at its foreign policies.

India attacks:

Following the Khobragade fallout, India did everything it could to make USA realize that they are going somewhere. Cancelling the Energy talk was one, removing security from outside the US consulate was another, expelling a US diplomat, etc.

Some of the other attacks included:

1. Submission of salary details of US diplomats' servants and household staff.
2. Submission of salary details by American schools paid to teachers. These would be forwarded to the I-T department for tax compliance. Details of work-permits, tax information, salary and other official documents of the American Embassy School.
3. Revoking of the tax-free import clearance of imported food, alcohol and domestic items by the US diplomat and consular officials.
4. Diplomatic passes and IDs of officials taken back
5. Demanding tax returns for commercial activities related to the use of diplomatic facilities by members of the general public including private American citizens and their families.
6. American Community Support Association (ACSA) club and American Embassy Club told to cease all commercial activities benefiting non-diplomatic staff by 16 January. In fact, the ACSA has been asked to be shut to non-diplomats from Jan 16 as it has failed to provide tax returns.
7. Screening of movies at the American center have been asked to stop until proper import licenses are produced.
8. No immunity from traffic control. Action would be stern on drunken driving and other traffic offences. In fact, Delhi police has been asked to remove the diplomat from the vehicle in such a case and take a breath-analysis test on the spot. In case the diplomat is found under the influence, the car is to be impounded and necessary action taken as with other drunk drivers.

Newfound cases

India is desperate to make America pay-back for the treatment meted out to its diplomat. Hence, it has started digging out cases and issues concerning US diplomats. Some of them include:

Illegal resale of tax-free fuel and duty-free items by diplomats
Investigation into illegal unauthorised employment of spouses of US diplomats stationed in India
Illegal use of tinted-glass on US Embassy vehicles in violation of Indian Supreme Court orders
Examination of cases of drunken-driving by US diplomats
Investigation into use of CD and CC vehicles for non-designated purposes
Investigation into use by US officials of "77 CD" plates with an applied for (AF) number in violation of norms under the Indian Motor Vehicles Act.

Agreed that what diplomat Devyani Khobragade went through was 'un'diplomatic in many ways, but we forget that what she is alleged to have done is 'un'diplomatic too. As per US visa policies, she has been flouting the visa norms of the US government, which has been termed unpardonable by the court there.

Despite this, the case still remain as an unsolved jigsaw puzzle where a bit is missing every time you delve into it. Moreover, it is getting tougher by the day to understand where the India-US relation is standing right now? Who is being over-sensitive toward the issue? Couldn't this be solved peacefully, without jeopardising the bilateral relations? Why is the US going all the way out to evacuate the 'victim's family?, etc.

Forget about that, our concern is whether India will land itself in a mess, following its revenge tactics? True, that India and US have been sharing a love-hate relationship across time, but this could be the end of it all.