Devyani Muddle:

Dec 23/2013: Devyani, the IFS officer, has not only been labeled as a dalit by Behenji Kumari Mayawati but now her father, a retired IAS officer has alleged that she is the victim of a CIA conspiracy. Coming to understand this incident which has been the main driving force to make the relations between India and the US bitter, we have learnt that this lady is married to an American citizen of Indian origin. On one hand, America is a nation that ensures an oath of allegiance from everyone whose origin is overseas. This oath clearly states that if and when required, the inpidual shall take up arms against her or his country of origin. On the other, we had always been thinking that every country follows a written law that prohibits its diplomatic corps from being posted in the embassies or consulates in a country where they might have married a national. In other words, diplomatic laws prohibit the government of India, especially the External Affairs Ministry, from posting Devyani in the US.

Her husband, touted to be a wine lover, was born and raised in the US by his parents who had migrated from India. As a businessman, obviously, he would have many friends and acquaintances who would also be in different businesses. Lately, India has been cow towing to big US corporates who deal not only with cars and fast food but nuclear power plants and such other critical military and non-military trade. Let us have no doubt that a Deputy Consul General of India posted in New York would have complete access to all secret and confidential communications not only limited to our diplomatic missions within the US, but also between them and the Government of India at New Delhi. The claim by Behenji Mayawati that the Government of India did not respond with alacrity to Devyani's plight simply because she is a dalit does not hold water nor is it believable. That people like Devyani can come into the IFS, get posted to a place like New York and that too when most of her colleagues and the government would certainly be aware that she is married in the US should be a huge issue. As a dalit, she must have had her fair share of benefits in getting recruited into the IFS. Her promotions would certainly have been much quicker compared to her non dalit co-employees and, most interestingly, her posting in NYC. America is considered a coveted posting for any Indian diplomat. However, people like Devyani are never known to have achieved anything commendable in building bridges with foreign nations. Implicating her in a domestic servant's visa fraud case certainly cannot be the pre-occupation of the American administration. Indians who have travelled to the US would know very well that, unlike India, the US does not function on personal stature or likes and dislikes. The administration depends mostly on systems that often do not take into consideration who is at the receiving end. This is not to imply that the US is a land of pure justice. Yet, in a situation where a senior diplomat is involved, it definitely can be suggested that the administration there would have allowed normal process of law to handle the issue.

At the end, as of now, the Devyani muddle seems to be getting muddier and the lady does not appear to be way beyond reproach. Minister Khurshid shrieking that he will give back the modesty that Devyani lost due to 'cavity' searches could disturb dentists in their profession. Whether it is Devyani or India which is the victim is a question that many of us have to ponder after coming to know of her offer of gratitude to her seniors for helping her out and not mentioning that the whole country has gone berserk against the US for her petty acts. More light may soon be shed on this daily unravelling story.