US embassy in India PHOTO:REUTERS
NEW DELHI: India has asked the US embassy to close down commercial activities at its sports and leisure centre in New Delhi in the latest development in a diplomatic row, a source told AFP Wednesday.
The foreign ministry has given the embassy a January 16 deadline to stop non-diplomatic staff using its sprawling American Community Support Association facilities.
Commercial members pay thousands of dollars a year to use the swimming pool, gym and and bowling alley, as well as the bar and restaurant which serve imported alcohol and food at low rates.
"These facilities only meant for the embassy's diplomatic staff are being used commercially, offered to non-diplomatic individuals," a foreign ministry official told AFP.
The ministry official said recent curbs on the import of duty-free alcohol and the ban on non-diplomatic staff using ACSA could lead to it becoming economically unviable.
The foreign ministry has also reportedly given directions to traffic and transport authorities in the capital to remove the immunity of US diplomatic vehicles to traffic fines.
Relations between the two countries were thrown into crisis after the December 12 arrest of Devyani Khobragade, a consular official in New York who said she was strip-searched in custody.
She was arrested on suspicion of visa fraud and underpaying her domestic servant, but India claims she should have benefited from diplomatic immunity and is outraged at her treatment.
India retaliated within a week of her arrest by dismantling extra security barricades and spike strips around the US embassy complex in New Delhi, which were put in place after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid has vowed to bring back Khobragade to India and to restore her dignity.
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Request read the neutral article at the following link by a Singapore diplomat and teacher:
http://www.mahbubani.net/articles%20by%20dean/Two%20shades%20of%20immunity.pdf
Sir, I do believe that the Indian diplomat has broken the law and needs to face justice. She cannot deny that she didn't know the law, besides that is not a defense plea. India Govt is wrong in defending a criminal. The only thing which was wrong was to handcuff her and do body search for a non-violent crime. Interestingly, it is another American-Indian who is persecuting her (Bharara, US attorney general for new York). Maybe the Indian embassy people asked him for a bribe (as is very common and well known.. I have been asked for bribe at the Indian High commission for a visa and I know several others who have to pay bribe to Indian Embassy officials not only in UK but also in Germany) or harassed him in some other way. In any case, I have no sympathy for her.
If it was Pakistan, a few dollars would have solved the problem.
indan reactions indicate that they were very liberal in granting privilages to the American Embassy staff. Now they are learning to play by the rule: This is a good example for their neighbour Pakista to follow and correct the realtionship.
Rex Minor
as expected, ET has blocked al my comments.
Proves that, the media is controlled by both the business and the politics.
Shame on u world
@Last Word: India may be taking the bull by its horns, but we are going a step further. We are taking the horns by the bull. Case in point: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stated that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have always stood by each other in difficult times and the people of Pakistan deeply value relations with the Kingdom, during his meeting with Prince Saud al Faisal at the PM House in Islamabad. I rest my craze.
I find it ridiculous that the Indian government was allowing the US embassy to run a mini Walmart in the US embassy selling products imported for diplomats at zero duty. Turning a blind eye to a virtual smuggling racket run by the embassy is totally ridiculous.
@unbelievable: There is a word called reciprocation, look it up
Oh really commercial?? BTW activities of Indian embassy in Afghanistan is more than just commercial!
Yet again the Indian govt is making an international laughing stock of itself!
Still smarting from the arrest of their diplomat for visa fraud.
@Serious: If you think cutting off swimming/bowling or tossing a nanny's family in jail helps defend your nations honor/self respect then your nation is in a World of hurt.
@Khan: yea pakistan is richest nation on earth
Salute to India. They are showing they have Ghairat left unlike a certain other country in South Asia.
India is taking the bull by its horns. Can Pakistan do the same with US who keeps twisting its arms ?