(Current Affairs) India and The World | February: 2014

India & The World

INDIA & USA

United States on 29 December 2013 initiated an inter-agency review to look at the lapses that happened in the Devyani Khobragade case that triggered uproar in India and strained bilateral ties. The decision on the review was taken following a tough stand of India on the arrest of Devyani Khobragade. The US departments involved in the review include the National Security Council of the White House, the State Department and the Justice Department. The matter of the diplomat has now landed up in the judiciary and it mainly depends on the judges for which the two bodies are engaged actively. There was a judgmental error in handling the case and an inter agency team that is led by the State Department is working 24x7 to get resolved the issue as quickly it is possible. Devyani Khobragade a 1999-batch IFS officer is the India’s Deputy Consul General in New York was arrested on alleged visa fraud charges. Devyani, the 39- year-old diplomat was strip searched and held with the criminals on the charges of making false declarations in the visa application of her maid Sangeeta Richard. In respond to it India reacted strongly by downgrading the privileges of certain category of US diplomats among other steps.

INDIA & SRI LANKA

Sri Lankan court on 26 December 2013 extended the remand of 111 Indian fishermen, who were caught by the Navy of the country in December 2013. The Trincomalee magistrate’s court has extended the remand on the charges of violating the international maritime boundary. The court has held 6 January 2013 to review the case. The same court, earlier also extended the remand of two groups of 30 fishermen each. Rajitha Senaratne, the Fisheries Minister of Sri Lanka has said that none of the boats or the fishermen of India will be released until the 200 Sri Lankan fishermen, who are in the custody of the India were released. As per the Fisheries Minister of Sri Lanka, the two countries will held a meeting of the representative of the fishermen’s associations of the two countries in January 2013. Also the Senaratne will visit New Delhi in January 2013 to discuss the issue with Sharad Pawar, the Union Agriculture Minister, who also holds the charge of the Indian fisheries department.

Maritime Boundaries: India and Sri Lanka

The Government of the Republic of India and the Republic of Sri Lanka signed an agreement on 23 March 1976, establishing maritime boundaries in the Gulf of Manaar and the Bay of Bengal. Ratifications were exchanged and the agreement entered into force on 10 May 1976, two years after the two countries negotiated a boundary in the Palk Strait.

Article V of the signed agreement mentions

(1) Each Party shall have sovereignty over the historic waters and territorial sea, as well as over the islands, falling on its side of the aforesaid boundary.

(2) Each Party shall have sovereign rights and exclusive jurisdiction over the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone as well as over their resources, whether living or non-living, falling on its side of the aforesaid boundary.

(3) Each Party shall respect rights of navigation through its territorial sea and exclusive economic zone in accordance with its laws and regulations and the rules of international law.

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