Raging Indian protesters ransacked a Domino’s Pizza store in Mumbai on Friday, while a throng of equally angry domestic workers unleashed their fury on India’s New York consulate in the ongoing diplo-war over the arrest of a female India consulate official.
The attack on the US pizza chain came as the United States refused to bow to India’s demands to drop charges against Devyani Khobragade, the India deputy consulate general arrested in Manhattan last week on charges of fraud and underpaying her housekeeper.
The Mumbai rioters demanded a ban on US goods, and police beefed up patrols of American businesses, including McDonald’s.
“America has to make good for its actions,’’ fumed Manish Tiwari, India’s information and broadcasting minister, saying US officials “behaved atrociously” in arresting Khobragade, 39.
A world away, on East 64th Street, dozens of domestic workers surrounded India’s consulate, protesting the slave wages Khobragade allegedly paid to maid Sangeeta Richard, 42.
“Hey, hey! Ho, ho! Slavery has to go!’’ the spirited group chanted, holding up signs protesting Khobragade’s bid for diplomatic immunity and her alleged human-rights violations.
Manhattan prosecutors accused Khobragade of visa fraud, lying to US officials and paying Richard a measly $3.31 an hour. Minimum wage is $7.25.
“We demand that the Indian government recognize that her rights were violated,’’ one consulate protestor shouted, referring to Richard.
“We demand respect and protection for the family of this worker!’’
Khobragade has complained that she was strip-searched — which the feds said is standard practice at arrests. She also claimed she was cavity-searched, which US officials deny.
India officials have come down squarely on Khobragade’s side and demanded the charges be dropped. Some have accused Richard of trying to blackmail Khobragade.
A US State Department spokesperson said Friday that dropping the complaint “is not even something that’s being considered.’’
Khobragade, who has moved to the UN Mission in a bid to score diplomatic immunity from prosecution, declined comment as she left the building Friday.
Additional reporting by Kevin Fasick and Post Wire Services