INDIA - USA CONFLICT ( VISA /MAID )

OF AN ICE-BERG
MORE IS HIDDEN BENEATH
THAN REVEALED ABOVE !
AND WHO CAN SKETCH
THE REAL SHAPE OF IT ? !
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At the heart of this case is diplomat Khobragade's treatment of Richard, her maid and nanny. It's an issue that has been trumped -- perhaps intentionally -- by the politics swirling about this case, Ganguly said.

Court documents show that Khobragade lied in a visa application, promising to pay her domestic helper minimum wage of $9.75 an hour even though the actual salary was much less -- $3.31 an hour. Khobragade allegedly instructed the housekeeper to say she would be paid the higher rate and not mention her actual pay.

Domestic workers are often underpaid and abused in India, and human rights advocates have been frustrated that the focus of the Khobragade scandal has been on politics rather than the alleged crime.

"Something we don't want to talk about or think about is how we treat domestic workers. For God's sake, we treat them like cattle," Ganguly said. "This is a national shame we have not confronted."

In the meantime, global observers worry about the widened rift between India and the United States.

Nicholas Burns, former U.S. undersecretary for political affairs, considers India one of American's most important allies.

"Hopefully this can be diffused so we can go back to working on the very important issues on our agenda," he said.

Ganguly said Indians need to check what he views as their overreaction.

"It's very poorly thought out. This is the most foolish and petulant behavior," he said.

Ganguly said he feared the Khobragde incident has the potential to be quite damaging.

"I think U.S. patience will run out at some point," he said.
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Indian reaction to diplomat's arrest: Mix of Cold War legacy and politics?

By Moni Basu, CNN

December 19, 2013 -- Updated 2235 GMT (0635 HKT)

Three unrelated forces caused escalation of US-India diplomatic crisis - Hindustan Times

hindustantimes.com

The present practice of Indian diplomats bringing in domestic help and paying desi wages is becoming more and more difficult to sustain. The Indian diplomats are legally allowed to do this.

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  Phanibhusan Basu " Help's Family Flown in 2 days Before Diplomat was arrested " - T.O.I ,kolkata, Thursday , December 19 , 2013 , Front page .

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  Phanibhusan Basu "IT's All A Made -In - US Frame -up, Says Inddia ." - The T.O.I , kplkata, Thursday, december 19, 2013 , Front Page . 'to facilitate the illegal immigration of Khobragade's maid sangeeta Richards and her family,coprising her husband and two children to America.'