NEW DELHI: Members in the Lok Sabha today expressed outrage over the action against an Indian diplomat in New York and said Parliament should speak in one voice that India will not stoop to foreign pressure.
Speaking on diplomat Devyani Khobragade’s arrest, Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP) demanded that the House should pass a resolution condemning the US action against Khobragade.
He alleged that the government is “shaking with fear” of the US and this has led to increase in such cases.
Yadav said Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan was stopped at a US airport for one-and-a-half hours. “The US itself had invited him for successfully conducting the Kumbh Mela but treated him like this,” he said.
Union Ministers Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel as well as former President A P J Abdul Kalam and former Defense Minister George Fernandes were insulted by the US, he said.
“Just because US conducted some (nuclear) explosions we are cowering with fear. Will America’s bullying go on?” he asked.
Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj associated with the issue raised by Yadav. She said even Indian Ambassador Meera Shankar had to face insult.
“Devyani Khobragade had gone to drop her daughter when she was arrested and handcuffed,” Swaraj said, condemning the incident.
BJP also said the government should take appropriate action in the case of Sunil James, a sailor who has been arrested by Togo. “His 11-month-old son died and his embalmed body has been kept in the hope that James will return and perform the last rites,” Swaraj said.
She lamented that even a small country like Togo is now bullying India.
“Parliament should speak in one voice that India will not stoop to foreign pressure,” Swaraj said. . Participating in the impromptu debate, Sanjay Nirupam (Cong) condemned the alleged ill treatment meted out to the Indian diplomat in the US saying that government must take strongest possible action against the “inhuman” behavior of the US authorities.
Raising the issue of Indian sailor Sunil James, Nirupam said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh or External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid should talk to their counterparts for his early release.
“We must take strong action in both the cases so that no one can dare to act against innocent Indians in future,” he said.
The Congress member also drew the attention of the House about the death of an Indian in Doha airport saying the Qatar authorities have refused to cooperate in the investigation to find out the exact reason if his death.
“Such incidents must stop. We must demonstrate that we are not a soft state but a strong state,” he said.
Condemning the alleged insult and inhuman behavior to the Indian diplomat, Trinamool Congress member Saugata Roy demanded adoption of a House resolution condemning the action by the United States.
Appreciating government action against American diplomats posted in India, Roy said the incident of Khobragade was not the first incident when the US authorities “misbehaved” with an Indian.
“They did the same thing to former President A P J Abdul Kalam, Defense Minister Geroge Fernandes, Bollywood stars Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan. The US act as if they are the big brother. But they are not. We Indians stand united in such incidents,” he said. Supriya Sule (NCP) supported the government action in the wake of Khobragade’s arrest and subsequent alleged ill treatment saying that a message must go to everyone that government was committed to protect the interests of Indians living abroad.
Condemning the arrest of the diplomat in New York, JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav said government must take strong action as there have been several incidents in the past when US authorities allegedly mistreated prominent Indians, including former Defense Minister George Fernandes and Heavy Industry Minister Praful Patel.
M Thambidurai (AIADMK) condemned the alleged insult of Khobragade and mentioned the alleged “humiliation” meted out to former President Kalam when he had visited the US.
Dara Singh Chauhan (BSP) drew the attention of the House to the alleged discrimination being faced by people of Uttar Pradesh living abroad.
Nama Nageswara Rao (TDP) said India has been lenient towards foreigners and even allowed two Italian marines, accused of murdering Kerala fishermen, to home to cast votes in an election.
He said India must demonstrate its commitment to protect the interests of its people living abroad.
Tathagata Satpathy (BJD) said action must be taken against the US as the country has offended and humiliated many Indians visiting that country.
Anant Geete (Shiv Sena) said the US has been repeatedly humiliating Indian government and New Delhi must take strongest possible action so that no such incident takes place in the future.-PTI
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