BJP lauds U.S. for dropping charges against Devyani Khobragade

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has praised the United States for dropping all charges against Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade.

"We welcome the U.S decision on Devyani. Had our government taken this matter up as early as possible with the U.S. authorities, then Indo-U.S ties would not have even strained momentarily. It must be appreciated that finally the U.S. has dropped all charges against Devyani, even though this decision has come too late."

Earlier, a U.S court announced the dropping of all charges against Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, who was deputy consul-general in New York, and was arrested on December 12, on charges of making false declarations in a visa application for her maid.

She (Devyani Khobragade) was later released on payment of bail of USD 250,000 after an outraged New Delhi triggered off a diplomatic row with Washington.