Former IAS officer Uttam Khobragade on Saturday came out strongly in defence of his daughter, diplomat Devyani Khobragade, contending that she “did not violate any of the conduct rules” and suggested that there could be a “hidden agenda” behind her penalization.
Mr. Khobragade told The Hindu that his daughter was penalized for “no reason” and wondered “why it came all of a sudden.”
He said the Indian Constitution granted the Freedom of Speech and Expression to every citizen and no rule prevented government servants from speaking to the media. On the contrary, Mr. Khobragade pointed out that a government servant was “allowed to go the media to vindicate any allegations against him or her.”
“Only restriction is that a government servant cannot say anything that goes against the government. In that interview, Devyani has not uttered a single word about the government or against the government. So what rule did she break?” Mr. Khobragade asked.
“There seems to be a hidden agenda behind this. Any rational person would conclude that it was to either humiliate or demoralise her,” Mr. Khobragade said.
Mr. Khobragade said he would study the order and raise it at the “appropriate forum.”
