IndianExpress | Political parties expressed outrage over the "shameful and barbaric"
treatment meted out to Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in New York
and asked the government to take every step matching US action till it
gives an unconditional apology.
"The incidents should be condemned by all. More steps should be
taken till the US gives an unconditional apology," Union Minister and
Congress leader Kamal Nath said as India announced a slew of measures
curtailing privileges of US diplomats here.
"India should take the lead in sending a message to the US authorities," he said.
Main opposition BJP asked the government to take up the matter
strongly with the American establishment and even demanded arrest of
American gay partners in India.
"The way she was arrested after being handcuffed, kept with drug
addicts and strip-searched in the police station, that is condemnable,
reprehensible and regrettable and in clear violation of conventions,"
BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
Taking a dig at the UPA government, he said that the treatment
given to the Indian diplomat by the US "does not accord to the level of
friendship that the Indian government claims to have with the US".
"We would urge the Indian government, which tries to match each
and every step of the US, to take serious action in this matter to
establish the Indian sovereignty and prestige of its diplomatic
community," he said.
Reacting sharply to the arrest of the diplomat, former External
Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said the government should hit back by
punishing same sex companions of US diplomats in India following the
Supreme Court ruling on gay sex.
