India has suffered considerable international embarrassment over the rape of a Swiss diplomat on October 14 in Delhi.
First, the Swiss ambassador reminded New Delhi of its responsibility under the Geneva Convention to protect foreign diplomats.
Second, the International Film Festival, currently on in the capital, has turned into a protest ground.
On Thursday several delegates and filmmakers wore black badges while posters appeared questioning the security provided to women in Delhi.
Half an hour after the Swiss diplomat was raped, a woman filmmaker was assaulted near the Siri Fort auditorium in South Delhi where the film festival is currently in progress.
Senior external affairs ministry officials admitted to rediff.com that there will be a "further fallout" of the rape. A senior official hoped that no Western nation would take any "panicky" steps.
"We never know. They have their own parameters for defining security. Obviously, the bar is much higher than ours," the official said.
Swiss Ambassador Walter Gyger on Thursday told a senior MEA representative that law and order was India's responsibility. In the note verbale, the ambassador reminded India that it was the host's duty to protect foreign diplomats.
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"We have conveyed our dismay over the incident and have been assured that the guilty will be brought to book," the MEA official said.
The victim has returned to Switzerland. Diplomatic sources said she would be provided professional counselling and other support to overcome the trauma.
The diplomat has offered assistance to Indian investigators if the criminals are booked. She has given a detailed statement to the police in which the rapist has been described as a suave young Indian speaking fluent English. After raping her, according to the statement, the man lectured the diplomat on Indian traditions and Europe. His associate has been described as 'someone speaking Hindi and not so suave.'
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