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.
