Search 'so-called' diplomats in American Embassy: Yashwant Sinha

Angry with the treatment meted out to diplomat Devyani Khobragade in the USA, former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha today demanded a thorough search of officials in the American Embassy in New Delhi and take necessary actions as per law.

"There should be a thorough search of the so-called diplomats in the American Embassy as many officials who should not get diplomatic status have diplomatic IDs, and action should be taken against them as per law," Sinha told reporters here.

Condemning the handcuffing and strip-searching of Khobragade, he said, "International relations are akin to requiring both hands for clapping. But America has refused to withdraw the case against Devyani, which leaves a question mark on whether it will apologise for what had happened to her."

"If India doesn't act against the insult meted out to its diplomat, then the world will see us as a weak nation," the senior BJP MP said, and cited a recent example of how the Brazilian President cancelled her official visit to the USA following a spying controversy.

A 1999-batch IFS officer, Devyani was arrested on December 12 on visa fraud charges kicking up an outrage in the country.