Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma has assured Indian industry that the ongoing diplomatic tiff between India and the US over the arrest of Deputy Consul General in New York, Devyani Khobragade, will not impact commercial relations.

“India was outraged over the treatment given to Devyani but our relationship with the US is far too important. It is a strategic partnership between the two largest democracies of the world. So, we are not disengaging. This relationship will go stronger,” Sharma told reporters on the sidelines of a FICCI event here on Saturday.

Mature democracies India and the US have been engaged in diplomatic parleys for about a week following the arrest of Khobragade in New York over visa fraud charges involving her maid.

India withdrew a number of privileges given to US diplomats in India to mark its displeasure over the rough handling of the Deputy Consul General.

“In mature democracies, issues get addressed. Issues are not allowed to cast an ominous shadow on what is truly a building partnership,” Sharma said.

The US is India’s largest export destination. The country received foreign direct investment worth $11.62 billion from the US between April 2000 and September 2013, which is 6 per cent of the country’s total foreign inflows during that period.

>amiti.sen@thehindu.co.in

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