BJP's Dalit wing holds anti-U.S. protest in Chennai over a diplomat row

The Dalit wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held anti-U.S protest in Chennai on Monday, where it condemned the 'autocratic attitude' meted out to Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade after her arrest in New York.

"Strong protest, against the attitude of the American government in arresting the Deputy Consul of India, Devyani Khobragade on false charges and humiliate her without informing (about her arrest) to the consulate. We are condemning the autocratic attitude of the American government in all terms," said Sarvothaman, a Dalit wing leader.

India said Saturday that it had transferred the diplomat, Devyani Khobragade, at the centre of a row with the United States to its U.N. mission, a move that it hopes will give her protection from prosecution for visa fraud and for underpaying her one time maid.

Whether the accreditation of Devyani Khobragade as a member of India's U.N. mission leads to a way out of the dispute could depend on the U.S. State Department approving her transfer.

The world's two largest democracies have been at loggerheads for the past week, amid mounting outrage in India over the arrest of Khobragade, who was strip-searched and handcuffed while in custody.

Khobragade was arrested on December 12 and released on USD 250,000 bail after giving up her passport and pleading not guilty to charges of visa fraud and making false statements about how much she paid her housekeeper, also an Indian.

At the time of her arrest Khobragade was serving as deputy consul general in New York, a role which affords less diplomatic protection from U.S. law.

She faces a maximum of 15 years in prison if convicted of both counts.