Just as "The Help" opened up the way for better treatment at the workplace the unfortunate episode of the Indian consul being arrested is so unfortunate.
The servant was so happy to go and work in the US wherein she was getting to send a monthly paycheck to her family back home a princely sum of 30k per month. (starting salary for a bureaucrat in India!!)
The point one does not understand here is that was there abuse of the maid ?
was a complaint made by the maid with the US authorities that she was being exploited? - UPDATE (ostensibly she was working with the Manhattan US attorney Barara claiming exploitation - as of the 10th the absconding maids entire family had reached the US)
This (minimum wages to maids) was a rule that was followed more in the breach (with apologies to the rt.hon. MP - hacker) and as such the US should have just sent a simple communication to the Indian consulate that they will be implementing the letter of the law and all consulates to clean home as it may be. This was not followed.
So it comes back to WHY the US took this very extreme step?
as per my FB friend the real genesis of this extreme step was a retaliation to the visa denial for a gay spouse by the MEA (gays are not spouse and it is still a criminal act here in india as per indian laws). in this case the US protested and India (as usual) went out of its way in not only issuing the visa BUT also transferred the concerned officer for following the rule!!
The US thought that India would continue to look the other way if they messed around with one of their consular members. They just didnt take into calculation the pressure that a weakened govt was already under locally and was looking to redeem itself in the eyes of its citizens and with the BJP talking tough with reciprocity being the hallmark of smart and equal diplomacy, the govt went into overdrive.
However if one were to look at what this useless/ spineless govt has done so far is ONLY bring to an end the unilateral priverlages given by india. They are yet to act in a manner which will send a clear message. some of these messages are;
1. arrest all gay couples irrespective of immunity or otherwise
2. impose property tax on the US embassy a la commercial rates as they run many commercial establishments in its premises
3. arrest all the spouses of officers who are working on the side in indian companies
If this still doesnt get an apology and in return the US are to retaliate furthur - i am sure the govt can match them on a reciprocal basis. Of course all the above is just to get the US to come to its senses and withdraw all charges against Devyani and also to issue an unconditional apology.
Now coming to the person in the centre of the storm - Ms Khobragade. She is a career diplomat, daughter of a promotee IAS officer (who was central to the adarsh housing scam) and such not an ideal choice for posting in a country like US - But it is exactly her credentials as a dalit champion, father close to the Congress etc that got her the plum coveted posting in the US. As the cycle of karma turned in her case the plump posting had a more than unintended closure. Her connections in government are more evident from the fact that she has managed to get posted to the UN instead of just being happy to get back home to india.
Personally the officer is not the ideal officer in my opinion BUT the issue here is of India's sovereignty and honour and its standing in the comity of nations and as such that is not something that can be compromised or reduced in any way.
The servant was so happy to go and work in the US wherein she was getting to send a monthly paycheck to her family back home a princely sum of 30k per month. (starting salary for a bureaucrat in India!!)
The point one does not understand here is that was there abuse of the maid ?
was a complaint made by the maid with the US authorities that she was being exploited? - UPDATE (ostensibly she was working with the Manhattan US attorney Barara claiming exploitation - as of the 10th the absconding maids entire family had reached the US)
This (minimum wages to maids) was a rule that was followed more in the breach (with apologies to the rt.hon. MP - hacker) and as such the US should have just sent a simple communication to the Indian consulate that they will be implementing the letter of the law and all consulates to clean home as it may be. This was not followed.
So it comes back to WHY the US took this very extreme step?
as per my FB friend the real genesis of this extreme step was a retaliation to the visa denial for a gay spouse by the MEA (gays are not spouse and it is still a criminal act here in india as per indian laws). in this case the US protested and India (as usual) went out of its way in not only issuing the visa BUT also transferred the concerned officer for following the rule!!
The US thought that India would continue to look the other way if they messed around with one of their consular members. They just didnt take into calculation the pressure that a weakened govt was already under locally and was looking to redeem itself in the eyes of its citizens and with the BJP talking tough with reciprocity being the hallmark of smart and equal diplomacy, the govt went into overdrive.
However if one were to look at what this useless/ spineless govt has done so far is ONLY bring to an end the unilateral priverlages given by india. They are yet to act in a manner which will send a clear message. some of these messages are;
1. arrest all gay couples irrespective of immunity or otherwise
2. impose property tax on the US embassy a la commercial rates as they run many commercial establishments in its premises
3. arrest all the spouses of officers who are working on the side in indian companies
If this still doesnt get an apology and in return the US are to retaliate furthur - i am sure the govt can match them on a reciprocal basis. Of course all the above is just to get the US to come to its senses and withdraw all charges against Devyani and also to issue an unconditional apology.
Now coming to the person in the centre of the storm - Ms Khobragade. She is a career diplomat, daughter of a promotee IAS officer (who was central to the adarsh housing scam) and such not an ideal choice for posting in a country like US - But it is exactly her credentials as a dalit champion, father close to the Congress etc that got her the plum coveted posting in the US. As the cycle of karma turned in her case the plump posting had a more than unintended closure. Her connections in government are more evident from the fact that she has managed to get posted to the UN instead of just being happy to get back home to india.
Personally the officer is not the ideal officer in my opinion BUT the issue here is of India's sovereignty and honour and its standing in the comity of nations and as such that is not something that can be compromised or reduced in any way.
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