The Hindu : National : ``Not discouraging scientists' visit''

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 18, 2006

National

National

``Not discouraging scientists' visit''

New Delhi: The United States on Friday said "no final decision" had been taken on the issue of visa to two senior Indian scientists, who were reportedly denied visas, and maintained that it was not "discouraging" their visits.

The U.S. Embassy said it regretted any inconvenience caused to Goverdhan Mehta, former Director of the Indian Institute of Science and Placid Rodriguez, former Director of Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam.

"Although it is generally the U.S. policy not to comment on individual visa cases, the U.S. Embassy feels compelled to correct the inaccuracies regarding Prof. Mehta's application for a visa," the embassy said in a statement here referring to a media report in this regard.

"No final decision has been taken on Prof. Mehta's application pending receipt of additional information necessary to process his visa request," it said.

With regard to Dr. Rodriguez, embassy spokesman David Kennedy told PTI that visa had not been denied to him although it got delayed because of certain reasons that are different from that of Prof. Mehta's case. The Embassy was in touch with Dr. Rodriguez and encouraged him to continue with the visa application. — PTI

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