Thaindian News

New Delhi, June 10 (IANS) Faced with criticism of its handling of the arrest of a Indian diplomat’s daughter in the US, the ministry of external affairs Friday made it clear that it has lodged a strong official protest with Washington on the “wrongful” confinement of the youngster last month.

In a statement here, spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said the ministry had also sought consular access and legal counsel to Krittika Biswas, daughter of India’s vice consul at its consulate general in New York, apart from going to the aid of her family.

“A strong official protest was lodged with the State Department in Washington by the Indian embassy and with the US embassy in New Delhi, by the ministry against her wrongful confinement and the manner in which she was treated. The ministry has consistently maintained that the action against her was wrong and unwarranted,” he said.

Prakash was responding to a media report alleging that the ministry had “tried to soft pedal” Biswas’ wrongful confinement.

“The story in question is incorrect and speculative,” he said.

Noting that the Indian embassy and the consulate general had immediately “swung into action” soon after the news of Biswas’ arrest came to light and were in touch with the New York authorities and the State Department.

“As a result, Biswas was released the next day,” Prakash said.

“While the ministry was firm in its engagement with the US authorities on this issue, the welfare of Krittika Biswas and her family was of utmost concern to us, and, therefore, the ministry was keen to protect the identity of the young girl and the family’s privacy,” he said.

However, once her family sought ministry’s permission to initiate legal proceedings against the concerned authorities in New York, it was granted promptly, he added.

“Ministry’s thoughts and support remain with the family at this difficult juncture and we will continue to provide them whatever assistance we can,” the spokesperson said.

The ministry, he said, expects that such incidents will not happen again, especially given the excellent bilateral relations between India and the US.