Had the NYPD not behaved they way they did, this would've been a case of Indians exploiting one another. Their behaviour was a result of their attitude towards slavery, not as a result of racism. Bonded labour and human trafficking are one and the same to them. The truth lies in the comments section of the articles related to this incident. Majority of the comments on International websites condemn Devyani while over here "nationalists vs rationalists" is the growing trend.
You are looking to the NYPD for rational action.
Their behaviour was a result of their attitude towards slavery,
Are you actually this deluded ? Do you think the NYPD gives two shits over who they arrest ?
They have 20 warrants to serve and a 9-5 job, after that beer at the corner bar just like everyone else. They aren't some Super Moral Anti Slavery Force.
the truth lies in the comments section of the articles related to this incident. Majority of the comments on International websites condemn Devyani while over here "nationalists vs rationalists" is the growing trend
You believe comments on a News Article than your own Govt. And what authority do those commenters have, to actually so weigh so heavily on your soul.
Nobody seems to understand that Americans loathe and detest the very idea behind Slavery or Human Trafficking. And they will treat anyone found guilty in the same way they would treat a psychotic serial killer.
As already pointed out Americans are pretty okay with slave like wages paid to Mexican seasonal workers .. they don't have any higher conscience. Please don't raise that pedestal you have higher than it already is .. Walmart isnt ready to pay a wage that enables their workers to eat properly.
Americans are perfectly comfortable walking around in Sneakers & Clothes made by child labourers in Third World Country .. Where is there superior conscience and sense of Justice then ?
Where was Devyani's common sense when she delivered the first blow (innocently perhaps) by lying on the Visa application form? She's supposed to protect the best interests of Indians abroad and then she commits Visa fraud?
Where was Sangeeta's common sense when she lied along with Devyani? but we like to go after the big targets don't we.
You've left out Richard's testimony. Such a testimony would've fallen on deaf years in an Indian Police Station.
So if our Police won't listen you will take the matter to the US Attorneys .. ? Really ?
There are enough measures to take case of such issues withing the Embassy itself, please don't make this out to be more that what it is.
The maid is hunting for a Green Card and a lawyer hunting for high profile target. Its not a human rights campaign.
Remember that the NYPD officer HAS NO REASON TO BELIEVE EITHER DEVYANI OR RICHARD. Now how do you suppose an NYPD officer (who has no idea of what goes on in India) would react if an Indian Domestic help honestly answered questions related to her work lifestyle (most of it in India if not all) that applies to Domestic Workers in America? And can you blame the NYPD officer for asking so? Don't you think any NYPD officer would ask why someone absconded in the first place? And is it surprising if Richard exaggerated if not lied? And can you blame the NYPD officer, who has no idea about the servant class in India, for believing Richard's exaggerated testimony? And considering all of the aforementioned points do you think an NYPD officer, who also is a citizen of a Nation that takes its constitutional rights very seriously, would acknowledge Consular Immunity?
sid donny darko you are lost in a reality( or dream) of your own making ..
NYPD is a police force, they don't listen to testimonies or pass judgement. Please stop using the NYPD as a filler word, its making it impossible to even consider reading what you've said.
Here's where you bring in the fact that Devyani falsified documents to get Richard into the country. Can the NYPD Officer undermine, let alone overlook, the fact that Devyani committed a punishable crime? Do you really think Devyani could convince the ignorant NYPD Officer that Richard was an alias and not an innocent victim?
Again I BEG you please don't repeat the words NYPD .. they are a total non-actor in this whole case. Devyani allegedly commited Visa fraud, a fraud in which Richards was an equal accomplice. Infact Sangeeta Richards was the one who went to immigration and lied & submitted the false document.
Its debatable if Devyani can claim that she falsified documents in order for Richard to help her with her work. And Richard would've most probably told the NYPD Officer that she's only a Domestic Help and in no way connected to Devyani's employment. So does the NYPD Officer choose to acknowledge Devyani's Consular Immunity on the basis that Richard was hired to help her with her work? Or does the same NYPD Officer charge Devyani on the basis of conduct since she chose to mislead the USG by falsifying documents; a crime that the Consular Immunity cannot protect an Foreign National Consul from and the fact that there was no basis for Devyani to underpay Richard on American soil does not work in Devyani's favoir. And lets not talk about some contract signed in India. It has no bearing on Foreign Soil unless a Foreign Authority is involved.
I ran out patience when I read NYPD Officer again.
Americans are a gullible lot. America is about truth, freedom and justice and they get very emotional about these three.The NYPD Officer works for his Police Department. He has no idea of what goes on outside his department and its not his business to interfere. From his perspective, Devyani is the equivalent of a Human Trafficker.
That's it I am calling him a TROLL now .. sorry to everyone for the time wasted in replying to him. For the last time please look up the meaning of a Human Trafficking.
Think like an American. But how can the Officer take a neutral stance? He has no idea that a servant class exists in India and neither is it his business. He's from the state police department. It wouldn't even have struck him that he should get an Indian involved to get a better idea. Why should he treat this as a special case?
So much facepalm ..
In America, its perfectly normal if an Officer decides to press charges and hand-cuff anyone no matter how important they are. Unlike in image-conscious superficial India, you don't lose any self-respect (until proven guilty) when an Officer subjects you to body-checks who are just doing their jobs. From the perspective of the ignorant NYPD Officer, Devyani violated human rights. In America, lying on any application form seeking the approval of the USG is also equal to falsifying documents. America did not over-act. They acted in the only way they knew how. If they are guilty of anything, then its ignorance. Here i am doing my best to understand the predicament of an ignorant NYPD Officer and you say that i'm making up stuff. They don't see the necessity in handling the matter delicately because they didn't think that we'd be so petty to make a fuss about. They're probably scratching their heads right now wondering why we're making such a big fuss.
Already replied earlier to this .. will not feed this NYPD fantasy any more.
If what you're saying about Preet Bharara's real motives is true then would i be wrong in asking why he would put his reputation at risk by protecting Richard alone when he could have them both arrested? Wouldn't it make his job easier?
He needs a star witness to build his case, and that makes his job easier. Prosecuting both would have been harder. Its simple math buddy.
The only way i think Richard convinced authorities is if she told them that she was either ignorant or if Devyani never mentioned that the secondary contract she signed in India would not hold ground on American soil. If this is the case then as per the TVPA, American Authorities have no choice but to protect the Richards' interests. The American Authorities won't care if the Richards' are greedy masterminds whom Devyani treated properly since they have no choice but to abide by the TVPA.
Richards doesn't need to convince a
Harvard + Columbia Law graduate with 20 years of experience of anything. !! The second contract was signed in America, its not a valid contract.
if the Richards' are greedy masterminds whom Devyani treated properly
How can you alledge TVPA when there wasn't infact any Human Trafficking done ..
For the last time ..
Visa Fraud
IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO Human Trafficking. Please look up the meaning of each. Really, please do.
as per the TVPA, American Authorities have no choice but to protect the Richards' interests
Here is where I say you are cooking up facts. TVPA isnt some misdemeanor you can throw into a case..
And why hasn't Devyani been charged under TVPA if its such a big part of the case ??
The fact that NGO US Humans Right Watch is defending the US Government suggests that Devyani can be found guilty as per the TVPA
No it doesn't .. and please show me this NGO which is defending the US Gov. NGOs are no legal authorities. They are paid to look into such cases , its their job. This isn't some wild special case that NGO took notice to.
Since you seem hell bent on proving that i cook up my own facts instead of understanding that
1) Its our Cultural Differences which has made this as ugly as it is
2) A deputy consular general FROM INDIA REPRESENTS INDIA IN A POSITIVE FASHION.
3) The Americans had no other way to interpret a unique case like this and that suggesting a larger conspiracy at play is nonsense
1. Its the shoddy smear campaign of an over ambitious attorney who wants to score brownie points with his constituents.
2. Sure.
3. This isn;isn't some unique case, if you go through this thread alone you will find multiple such cases against diplomats of other countries. None of those cases ended up like this. No need for larger conspiracy just good ol' opportunism ..
I have quoted some of my own posts in chronological order - please count the number of times i've used the word "conduct" when i could've used "trafficking".
What does that even mean ? You have used traffcking more than enough time without any basis ..
An oversimplification. That's why i continue to use the word "interpret". Devyani was held responsible since as an employer she did not pay Richard properly.
Then please don't use the word interpret when you should be trying to state proper facts. Interpretations can be done in million ways, why should we accept only your version ?
Yes Devyani is being held responsible as an Employer, no shiz Sherlock.
Americans and all Caucasians alike, are a gullible bunch unlike us shrewd Indians. From where they stand, considering the cultural differences, i'm not surprised that they chose to believe the Richards'.
Biggest Facepalm of the Thread. This isn't about cultural differences.
Just because the reports don't explicitly mention the VTVPA means that it is not a solid reason to base a prosecution on. But that doesn't mean that it can be discounted.
Then where is the TVPA mentioned .. is the US Prosecutor some oracle. Can't you see the fallocy of your own statement. If isn't mentioned explicitly they will they ever consider going ahead with it.
But that doesn't mean that it can be discounted
or it should be discounted, swings both ways you see.
Please tell me on what basis did the American Authorities decide to
1) Protect Sangeetha Richard instead of arresting her as well.
2) Grant T2, T3 Visa's to Richards family
1. She became their Star Witness and cut a deal with the State Dept. She gets immunity for her crimes and testifes from the prosecution's side instead.
2. This has no bearing on the case at hand. US State Dept is free to do what ever they like, as clearly evident with this whole case.They had stonewalled the Indian Embassy for 6 months already .. I'd like to see them actually press charges of Human Trafficking if they are so confident, untill that its just posturing.
One theory I can suggest is that T2,T3 visa was part of the deal Sangeeta made to testify. She wanted her family in the US and T2/T3 is the fastest way to get it done.
It may not affect the legal outcome but don't you see what the HRW is trying to subtly hint at?
They can hint all they like, it wont change any existing fact of the case at hand. NGOs can come in after the trial completes to rehabilitate Sangeeta if need be. The ball is in the US Attorney's court, no NGO has balls to walk alongside them.
What say....
