DYFI activists protest in front of US Consulate

CHENNAI: About 50 activists of Democratic Youth Federation of India, a left wing youth outfit, staged a demonstration in front of the US Consulate here today to protest the arrest of diplomat Devyani Khobragade in New York.

They raised slogans and held placards against the US government, condemning her arrest, police said.

"We condemn the arrest of Indian diplomat in the US. We demand that the Indian government send back US diplomats posted here," one of the activists said.

Police prevented them from proceeding closer to the US Consulate campus.

Congress activists led by K Selvaperunthagai had staged a similar protest earlier this week.

A 1999-batch IFS officer, Khobragade was arrested on December 12 on visa fraud charges as she was dropping her daughter to school and released on a USD 250,000 bond after pleading not guilty in court.

The ill-treatment of its diplomat evoked a sharp reaction from India, which initiated a slew of steps to downgrade the privileges enjoyed by US diplomats and their families.

India has also asked US to drop all charges against Khobragade and demanded an apology for mistreatment.