US energy secretary will not travel to India for a dialogue that is considered a major element of India-US partnership.
New Delhi: The ongoing diplomatic spat between India and the US appeared to further escalate on Thursday in the backdrop of the regular energy dialogue between the two countries slated for next week being called off.
US energy secretary Ernest Moniz will not be travelling to India for a dialogue that was launched in 2005 and is considered an important element of the India-US strategic partnership. It was scheduled to be held on January 15.
This serious fallout of the diplomatic row over the Devyani Khobragade episode has come about just days ahead of the indictment hearing of the Indian diplomat on January 13 with her request for extending the deadline by 30 days being turned down on Thursday by a US federal judge.
With just four days remaining for the prosecution to file its charges against Devyani--she's been charged with visa fraud--Devyani's application for a G-1 visa has acquired a sense of urgency.
India has been insisting that the US grant her the G-1 visa that will provide her with diplomatic immunity.
On the face of it, just one working day, i.e. Friday, remains for the US to take a decision on her G-1 visa with the indictment hearing scheduled for Monday. Till so far, the state department has been repeatedly maintaining that her application for diplomatic immunity is ‘under review.’
Magistrate judge Sarah Netburn of the US district court for the southern district of New York turned down Devyani's request for an extension of deadline on the grounds that she had been unable to demonstrate ‘good cause’ for seeking an adjournment.
The indictment charges against the diplomat will be filed by January 13 and hence the crucial need for diplomatic immunity. Devyani's lawyer said other options are now being considered but wouldn't say what they are.
Sources said here on Thursday that India has been insisting that the G-1 visa be granted for it is the only way to resolve the matter. While New Delhi has been urging the US state department to give Devyani the G-1 visa, the latter has been sitting over the diplomat's application for over a fortnight now.
( Source : dc )
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