The Khobrgade aftermath

While condemning the nature of arrest of Indian Diplomat might be acceptable, engaging in similar (if not more) indecent acts is not.

Devyani Khobragade, Deputy Consul General, was handcuffed and strip searched for having breached an American law, a treatment I am in no way justifying. But Indian officials retaliated like jealous school kids and snubbed the U.S. diplomats. They even went to the extent of calling off security around the U.S. embassy. One BJP member suggested arresting homosexual partners of U.S. Diplomats.

There was even stone-pelting on a Domino’s Pizza outlet in Mumbai by irate protestors, who wanted to take their anger off on anything remotely American. Irony being their remarkably time-tested tolerance towards (mis)-treatment of women in their own country.

These acts, while suggesting immaturity of the political class, showcases India in a bad light, thereby placing the U.S. on a relative moral high ground.

The whole thing reminds me of a particular instance from the Indian history. The civil disobedience movement, and the massive campaign in Bardoli, Gujarat.

Gandhiji called off the massively successful movement due to the Chauri Chaura incident, wherein our Indian revolutionaries had burnt down a police station. Gandhi writes in his experiments with truth-
“If the revolutionaries did not assassinate the British, then the British Raj’s ideology of moral superiority and their counter-violence would not be justifiable.
Anti-imperialist terrorists gave the British, ideological and military legitimacy, in the eyes of many”

Do you see the connection here? He meant us to protest, but not in the same way as the opponent.

 Our response to the Khobragade situation demands diplomatic measures and negotiations, and not outright displays of displeasure.

 Let peace prevail.