Obama's India visit: Human rights bodies not convinced, thanks to Khobragade issue

New Delhi, Jan 25: Although both Indian and American sides have shown a lot of excitement over the visit of the US President Barack Obama to India to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebration, the first time ever by a White House incumbent, some quarters are not yet convinced. [Follow updates of President Barack Obama's visit to India]

According to a report published in the New York Times, the human rights groups are worried that Obama, in an endeavour to author a positive change in his country's relation with India, might set aside serious issues like that which emerged in 2013 around Devyani Khobragade, the Indian diplomat in New York who was accused of exploiting a domestic worker. [What happened in Devyani Khobragade case?]

The relation between the two nations was severely affected as a consequence.

The two sides spoke on issues like strategic, civil nuclear, defence and economic and that could convince the human rights bodies that the two democracies would make it a point not to involve into controversial issues. [Devyani Khobragade put on 'compulsory wait']

Human rights activists still suspect that Indian diplomats are still evading law in the US to exploit domestic workers in that country and have asked the State Department to probe them, said the NYT report.

They have also raised concern over forced labour and human trafficking in India and they expect the American president to address issues like free expression, gay rights and political pressure.

They have voiced concern over forced labor and human trafficking inside India as well. And they say they hope Mr. Obama raises questions about free expression, gay rights and political intimidation.

Oneindia News