Indo-U.S relationship will not be affected by Khobragade case: Anand Sharma

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma on Saturday said that the issue of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade is not going to affect the relationship between India and the United States of America.

"India was outraged over the treatment given to Devyani, but our relationship with the U.S is far more important. It is a strategic partnership between two largest democracies of the world," said Sharma.

He said he believed that this incident would make the relationship between the two countries stronger.

"We are not disengaging. This relationship will grow stronger, I have my confidence," said Sharma.

"As mature democracies we will sort out issues, but issues are not allowed cast ominous shadow over a truly building partnership," he added.

A 1999 batch IFS officer, Khobragade, India's Deputy Consul General in New York, was arrested on December 12 by the State Department's diplomatic security bureau, and then handed over to the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS).

Khobragade was taken into custody as she was dropping her daughter to school before being released on a USD 250,000 bond after pleading not guilty in court.