New Delhi, March 7
India is strictly adhering to the principle of parity in the matter of privileges and immunities for American diplomats in the wake of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade arrest by US authorities in an alleged visa fraud case in December.

Official sources said US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell remained without airport access pass, which was withdrawn following the Devyani episode. “Since our ambassador (in the US) does not enjoy that privilege, the same treatment is being awarded here.”

Asked why New Delhi had been extending to American diplomats certain privileges which were not available to diplomats of other nations before the Devyani incident, sources said in diplomatic relations, one always followed the process of ‘give and take’.

“There might have been situations where we might have asked for something and got it. Similarly, they might have asked for something which they got. What we have now done is to invoke the principle of parity in the case of the US too,” they said.

Sources said India had also invoked the principle of reciprocity in the case of ambassadors of those countries where Indian envoys were being frisked at airports.