December 18, 2013
Derek O’Brien speaks on diplomatic immunity row in the US | Transcript
To say that we as a country condemn this incident would be an understatement. But in this moment of sadness and anger, I am happy. I am happy that the Foreign Minister has just walked in because we have a specific suggestion to make in the light of what has happened.
Sir, we believe that it is time now to codify all privileges India gives US diplomats. We need to share these codified privileges we give them, in a statement to Parliament. Then, we need to tell the Parliament what privileges our Indian diplomats are given in the US. And my understanding is, there is a big gap between what privileges we give US diplomats and what privileges our diplomats have in the United States. We believe that if the Foreign Minister could make a statement after this, stating the intent to this, and this ought to be done, where the two privileges are meted out at both sides are equal and reciprocal.
Sir, the second point is more a comment. We keep using the term that we live in a Global Village and I think it was the former President KR Narayanan who aptly said, `we live in a Global Village but we do not need a Global Village Headman.’ America should stop pretending to be the self appointed Lokpal of the world.
