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| Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh with Saudi Monarch King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud Photo: The New Indian Express. |
By Nebil Nizar
Putting an
end to the diplomatic row between India and Saudi Arabia, the diplomat accused
of raping two Nepalese women in Gurgaon, was called back. Activists have
criticized India’s move of allowing the man, accused of a heinous crime, to
safely fly back to his country of origin. Indian diplomatic circles feel
otherwise.
India’s past hostility with Saudi Arabia was the result of its stance on Pakistan. There have been ups and downs in the past. Since the visit of King Abdullah to India in 2006, however, political equations have undergone a sea change. Dr. Manmohan Singh’s visit to the Kingdom in 2010 was first by an Indian Prime Minister in 28 years. Setting aside protocol, the Prime Minister was received at the airport by the entire Saudi cabinet. Saudi is now one of India’s greatest strategic partners in the Middle East, 4th largest overall in terms of trade. Recently, a Saudi-led military coalition halted the bombardment of Yemen following India's request to carry out an emergency evacuation. What’s more, for the first time in history, the Indian Air Force touched down in the Kingdom in August this year.
The gang rape and subsequent death of a 23 year-old- girl in Delhi back in 2012 led to widespread protests across the country and in the digital space. Public outcry was such that a committee was roped in to recommend changes to the criminal law in the world’s largest democracy. The Criminal Law Amendment Act was drafted, read, discussed and passed in record time. However, data reveals that nothing much has changed since. Widespread anger simmers in civil society regarding the instances of crime against women.
India’s past hostility with Saudi Arabia was the result of its stance on Pakistan. There have been ups and downs in the past. Since the visit of King Abdullah to India in 2006, however, political equations have undergone a sea change. Dr. Manmohan Singh’s visit to the Kingdom in 2010 was first by an Indian Prime Minister in 28 years. Setting aside protocol, the Prime Minister was received at the airport by the entire Saudi cabinet. Saudi is now one of India’s greatest strategic partners in the Middle East, 4th largest overall in terms of trade. Recently, a Saudi-led military coalition halted the bombardment of Yemen following India's request to carry out an emergency evacuation. What’s more, for the first time in history, the Indian Air Force touched down in the Kingdom in August this year.
The gang rape and subsequent death of a 23 year-old- girl in Delhi back in 2012 led to widespread protests across the country and in the digital space. Public outcry was such that a committee was roped in to recommend changes to the criminal law in the world’s largest democracy. The Criminal Law Amendment Act was drafted, read, discussed and passed in record time. However, data reveals that nothing much has changed since. Widespread anger simmers in civil society regarding the instances of crime against women.
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| Activists protesting outside Saudi Embassy in New Delhi. Photo: telegraph.co.uk/ Getty Images |
It is at the zenith of this
feeling that news broke out regarding the alleged brutal rape of two Nepalese
women by Saudi’s First Secretary to India. The informant to Gurgaon Police,
along with an NGO, was another sovereign country, Nepal. If media reports are
to be believed, the tip off did not mention the identity of the accused. Police
rushed to rescue the victims from an upmarket high-rise, only to learn that the
accused was a diplomat.
India then proceeded legally, being a signatory to the Vienna Convention, it cannot arrest a foreign diplomat. Instead, the Saudi Embassy was asked to waive his immunity. As is expected of every sovereign country, they refused.
The government of India has since been on the receiving end for going soft on the issue. The activists continue to demand justice for the Nepalese victims. One of them went to the extent of saying that the Indian Prime Minister had lost the moral right to speak on women’s safety. At the same time agreeing with the views of Indian Supreme Court, i.e. while a murderer destroys the physical frame of the victim, a rapist degrades and defiles the soul of a helpless female; we should not forget that national interests take precedence over resident’s interest. Meanwhile, Nepal has made it clear that they have good relations with Saudi Arabia and the victims would get justice.
India then proceeded legally, being a signatory to the Vienna Convention, it cannot arrest a foreign diplomat. Instead, the Saudi Embassy was asked to waive his immunity. As is expected of every sovereign country, they refused.
The government of India has since been on the receiving end for going soft on the issue. The activists continue to demand justice for the Nepalese victims. One of them went to the extent of saying that the Indian Prime Minister had lost the moral right to speak on women’s safety. At the same time agreeing with the views of Indian Supreme Court, i.e. while a murderer destroys the physical frame of the victim, a rapist degrades and defiles the soul of a helpless female; we should not forget that national interests take precedence over resident’s interest. Meanwhile, Nepal has made it clear that they have good relations with Saudi Arabia and the victims would get justice.
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| U.S. President Barack Obama with King Salman bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia. Photo: dw.com |
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