Glad Khobragade is finally coming home: Sujatha Singh

Commenting on Indian diplomat Dr. Devyani Khobragade coming back to India after being given diplomatic immunity, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh said on Friday that she was glad that her officer was finally coming back.

"I am not at a liberty to talk about it at this point of time. Let me just content myself to say that I am glad my officer is finally coming home," said Singh.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Yashwant Sinha slammed the government for remaining silent over the issue.

"If today I was a foreign minister, I would have sent the American Ambassador back to the U.S. and would have asked him to return to his home. I would also have asked our Ambassador to return to India. This is a very serious issue but why are we sitting quietly?" said Sinha.

Congress leader P. C. Chacko had said that the country retorted in the strongest measure possible and nobody could take India for granted now.

"We have proved that nobody can take India for granted because whatever has happened there was the most unfortunate in the diplomatic circles. Such a thing has never happened. Whether it is America or anybody India is not going to take things light now. We have retorted in the strongest measure possible and that has produced results also. We are happy about it," said Chacko.

Khobragade has been given diplomatic immunity and is flying back to India, MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said on Friday.

Akbaruddin further said that Khobragade, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York, was accredited on January 8 and given the privileges and immunities of a diplomatic envoy under the terms of Section 15 of the Headquarters Agreement between the United Nations and the United States.

According to Akbaruddin, at the time of her departure to India, Khobragade reiterated her innocence regarding charges filed against her and affirmed her gratitude to the Indian government, the people and the media for their support during this period.

She also affirmed her determination to ensure that the episode would not leave a lasting impact on her family, in particular, her children, who are still in the United States, Akbaruddin added.