amitkriit
BANNED
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2014
- Messages
- 1,245
- Reaction score
- -29
- Country
- Location
That was poorly articulated on my part. It was a minor issue in terms of India-US relations, as she is one individual, serving in one city. It was not a minor issue in terms of the crime she allegedly committed.
I think this basically comes down to better cultural awareness. If US diplomats were taking actions that conflicted with India's sensitivities over the caste system, Indian outrage would be absolutely justified. Diplomats should be aware of local customs and laws and act accordingly. So too, when an Indian diplomat engages in a form of pseudo-slavery in a country with an ugly history of slavery, with political implications that last until today, it's not unreasonable for Americans to be outraged. Americans were confused over India's outrage, so to speak. I would hardly call that "spouting homilies"--if India wants to engage in what Americans consider slavery, that's its right, but it's unreasonable to expect Americans to look upon it favorably, given our values. We are consistent in this, just look at our revulsion of the pseudo-slavery system in the UAE.
I agree that the US should have handled it quietly--arresting Khobragrade as she was dropping her children off to school was a terrible idea, probably ordered by some politically ambitious bureaucrat (there is something in the US called a "perp walk," which is essentially a photo opportunity for law enforcement to show the media that justice is being executed; this custom probably played a part).
Anyway, I don't want to stir this pot again. India can risk a diplomatic breach with the US, but I don't think such a move is to its own benefit. I agree with you that Modi's magnanimity in overlooking past slights probably results in a win for all sides.
No country that has economic ambitions will shun a market as large as the US. China's a good economy to have trade relations with, but why not also have trade relations with the US? India's involvement with the Non-Aligned Movement is one of the reasons why economic growth was so poor over its first several decades. Business is business, and trade should be pursued with as many markets as possible.
Just for your information the India consul staff comes from the "Lower Caste". Caste Issues in India are not as serious as the race issues in the US.
Please do not educate us about the American values, a country which has a long history of slavery and racially motivated attacks still continue. A country which did not give voting right to the Black Americans until 60s. Around 40 US embassy staffers and their family members in India left India after they were caught red handed in cases of Tax Theft and VISA fraud. Two US embassy staffers were (Wayne May and Alicia May) kicked out of India after they were caught making racially motivated degrading comments against India and Indians.
Modi is a nationalist and he only cares about the interests of India unlike the previous government which went out of the way to please the western powers. Maintaining good relation with major countries which are important to us (from the perspective of national security and economy) is a part of the current government's foreign policy objectives, but India will not be a part of any particular block. Non-alignment is a thing of past, India today is a much stronger nation now, we know that when we speak the whole world takes notice.
India's immediate priority is to secure her neighbourhood and to put the ailing Indian economy back on track and we have started working on it. The government has declared the mission 2022 and the work has started.