'I have not violated any service rules,' Devyani Khobragade told NDTV
Diplomat Devyani Khobragade, who was stripped of her duties over unauthorised statements to the media, told NDTV on Saturday that she was not going to resign from her post, despite facing an administrative inquiry.
"There is no question of resigning (from the Foreign Service). I have not violated any service rules," the diplomat told NDTV.
Reports on Saturday said Ms Khobragade has been removed from her current post in the foreign ministry for an unauthorised media interview and for not disclosing that her children held US passports. (
Devyani Khobragade wins dismissal of indictment in visa fraud case)
The Indian government's action comes a week after the mother-of-two spoke to NDTV about her arrest and strip search in New York last December while serving as India's deputy consul-general on charges of mistreating her servant.
She had denied the charge and subsequently returned to India, but the incident triggered fury in New Delhi and led to the resignation of then US ambassador Nancy Powell. The row saw weeks of feisty exchanges that strained bilateral ties and left resentment on both sides. (
Read: Confident I Will Get Justice, Devyani Khobragade Tells NDTV)
On whether she considered her decision to speak to the media a mistake, Ms Khobragade said, "I have spoken under the ambit of conduct rules. The rules clearly stipulate that you have to mention (during such interviews) that you are expressing your personal views, which I did. You do not say anything that can be taken as a negative view of government policies; I have not done anything like that".
"It is true that she has been placed on compulsory wait," a source in the foreign ministry told news agency Agence France-Presse, adding that Ms Khobragade now faces an administrative inquiry. Compulsory wait implies that Ms Khobragade remains in ministerial service but without a specific job. (
Diplomat issue shouldn't derail India ties: US National Security Adviser)
During the interview to NDTV last week, she said that her "kids were born in the US and are considered US citizens", a statement that reportedly took the ministry by surprise.
Defending dual passports for her children, Ms Khobragade told NDTV on Saturday, "It is mandated by Indian as well as US laws. Minor and dependent children are allowed dual citizenship. I had no other option but to take the American passport to take my children to the US".
"If there is any appeal-able action against me, I will appeal," she added.