Former consular attache at the Consulate General of France in Bangalore Pascal Mazurier, facing charges of raping his three-year-old daughter, said he was being humiliated the same way in India as Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in the US.
Speaking to reporters at a dharna held here on Sunday, Mazurier said, “Like Devyani, I was in a career to represent my country and maintain friendly ties with foreign countries. I also enjoy diplomatic status like her and am eligible to protection under the Vienna convention on Consular Affairs -1963.”
“The Indian government must provide me with reciprocal protection just like it is providing for Khobragade. My children are also entitled to protection under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child-1989,” he said.
Mazurier has appealed to the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights that his parents Jacqueline Maille and Jacques Mazurier be allowed to meet his three children, who are now living with his wife Suja Jones Mazurier.
In a written appeal to citizens and the government, Mazurier, who is now suspended, said the Indian government has been discriminatory in not showing the required response in his case. India had intervened in two other cases involving Indian children — that of Dr Vallabhaneni in Norway in May 2011 and of Puris in UK in March 2013.
“Why is the same denied to me and my children? Why this double standard by the Indian government?” Mazurier asked.
He alleged that his wife Suja has been interfering in the investigations.
“Suja harassed French diplomatic staff to get me arrested. She destroyed the sacred link I had with my three children,” he said.
Mazurier further said his parents have met his children only for a total of 30 minutes in the last 18 months after a long struggle with the Family Court.
“If it is right to fight against humiliations and violation of human rights of an Indian diplomat, it is also right to protest against the violations of my rights and the abuse of my children who have come as guests to India,” he said.
He said his discharge application has been pending with the Bangalore Trial Court for almost a year.
Meanwhile, NGOs in the city are providing the Mazurier family with counselling and support.
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