'My statement to media was a personal opinion,' clarifies Khobragade

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Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade on Saturday clarified that what she had recently said in front of the press was her personal view and not an official one and added that she did not make any statement that would embarrass relations between India and any other foreign government.

"As per civil service conduct rule nine, when you engage with a public medium, the officer has to make sure he/she clarifies. What I said was my personal view and should not be taken as an official view," said Khobragade.

I have done that, and I have clarified every time I have spoken to the press, that this is my personal opinion. I didn't say anything that could be taken as criticism of the government nor did I say anything that embarrasses relation between India and any other foreign government," she added.

Earlier in the day, Khobragade's father Uttam Khobragade came out in defence of his daughter stating that she did not violate any service rules by speaking to the media and added that freedom of expression was a fundamental right guaranteed by the Indian Constitution, which doesn't require any government permission.

According to reports, the government has placed Khobragade under 'compulsory watch' after she spoke to the media without seeking permission.

Khobragade, a 1999 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, was arrested and strip-searched in New York in December last year on charges of ill-treating her domestic help. The incident had led to a major diplomatic row between the two countries.