Reacting to the forced labor suit brought against Indian consul general in New York Prabhu Dayal, the government here protested against it cautioning that it could sour public opinion and have repercussions for ties.

Trashing the charges leveled against Prabhu Dayal as “motivated and baseless”, the foreign ministry said, “They are deeply concerned and disappointed that Indian diplomats and their family members should be targeted in such a manner in a friendly country like US”. Also added that “such actions hamper the ability of the individuals in question to discharge their official responsibilities as well as cause untold mental harassment and anguish. These incidents cannot be dismissed lightly”.

While the suit against Dayal, described by the ministry as “a senior diplomat of impeccable personal and professional integrity”, has been filed in the Manhattan federal court, the strong statement has made an assessment that US authorities have not been helpful to the diplomats facing harassment. In an earlier instance, Krittika Biswas, daughter of an Indian diplomat in New York, was imprisoned for a day on a charge which was found to be baseless.

The government is appreciative of the fact that US judiciary is fiercely independent and brooks little interference from the executive, but the US government’s does not take into account the needs and privileges diplomats have.

Report by Alka