Diplomats leaving the country: it's a serious insult, says Swamy

Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Thursday said it is a solemn insult that the rape accused diplomats can abscond from India.

"This is a very serious insult of the law of India that someone holding a diplomatic position should run away like this. We must take it up diplomatically. And, if necessary evoke the clauses of the Vienna Convention to see that he is brought to justice," Swamy told ANI.

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations gives diplomats immunity from arrest, criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits in the countries where they are posted.

Commenting on the discontinuation of postage stamps featuring former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, Singh said that "Personally, I was very fond of Rajiv Gandhi and thought very well of him, there are others also who have been neglected over the years. It's a very salutary step and I support the govt on that."

Postage stamps introduced in 2008 featuring Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, have been discontinued. The government is planning to introduce stamps featuring Deendayal Upadhyaya, Jayaprakash Narayan, Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Ram Manohar Lohia in the coming months.