As India sought waiving of immunity for the > diplomat accused of raping two Nepalese women in Gurgaon, an agency report said he and his family have shifted to the Saudi Embassy while the two women have left for Nepal earlier in the day.
There were conflicting reports on whether the diplomat had left for Saudi Arabia or whether he was staying at the embassy here, till a decision was taken.
The case has put >Indian diplomacy in the spotlight as the victim and the accused are of different nationalities.
Nepal has a special relationship with India and its citizens are treated on a par with Indians on many issues, and the government would wish to satisfy the Nepal government that it has taken effective action.
On the other hand, the government would rather not strain ties with Saudi Arabia where three million Indians live and work. Saudi Arabia has been India’s largest provider of oil since 2001.
Meanwhile, as more details emerged of how the > two women were locked up and raped repeatedly, the government could face political pressure to take stronger action against the diplomat.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala demanded that “the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister speak to the Saudi government, and get justice for the two women.”
Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrashekar said >External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj “must request the Saudi government to waive diplomatic immunity in the interest of justice.”
“The Vienna Convention must not be a cover for rape and sexual abuse,” he added.
