Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Adding to the slew of retaliatory measures in response to the treatment meted out to Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, India on Wednesday asked the US to stop commercial activities from its embassy premises from January 16.
Not just this, US diplomatic vehicles will now attract penalty for all traffic-related offences.
According to government sources, several commercial activities were being undertaken under the aegis of the American Community Support Association (ACSA), including a restaurant/bar, video club, bowling alley, swimming pool, sports field, beauty parlour and gym.
"The US has been asked to provide the tax returns filed by it with Indian authorities for the commercial activities which are afforded through ACSA to non-diplomatic persons, including private American citizens and their families," the sources added.
Indian authorities have cited the provision of such commercial facilities to non-diplomats as a violation of Article 41(3) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, which stipulates: "The premises of the mission must not be used in any manner incompatible with the functions of the mission as laid down in the present Convention or by other rules of general international law or by any special agreements in force between the sending and the receiving State. "
It a related development, it is also understood that US diplomatic vehicles will now attract penalties for all traffic related offenses such as unauthorised parking, not stopping at red light, dangerous driving etc, the sources added.
"Necessary action against Vehicles with AF (Applied for) number plates is also on the cards," the source added.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and Ambassador Nancy Powell have expressed regret at the ugly turn of events that led to the humiliation of Khobragade, an incident that caused a major downturn in Indo-US ties at the end of last year.
In another fallout of the India-US stand-off over the handcuffing and strip-search of Khobragade, India had earlier asked the American Center here to obtain a licence by January 20 or cease screening films.
The Indian move comes days after the External Affairs Ministry set up a group of experts, including in international law, human resource and finance, to discuss how to proceed against the US authorities in the wake of the December 12 handcuffing and strip-search of Khobragade, India`s deputy consul general in New York, which caused widespread outrage in India.
Khobragade, 39, was arrested on December 12 in New York on charges of making falsifying visa documents of her domestic help Sangeeta Richard and for underpaying her in violation of local labour laws. She was released on a USD 250,000 bail bond. Khobragade has denied the charges. The US has expressed regret over the circumstances of the arrest and voiced a desire to move forward on the bilateral relationship.
India has already withdrawn the airport passes given to US diplomats in India and the special diplomatic identity cards issued to them as part of reciprocal measures after the arrest of Khobragade.
India has demanded the US take back all charges against Khobragade and offer an unconditional apology.
(With IANS inputs)
