Thread: How not to win friends

Originally Posted by Hari_Om

I would have dismissed this for being “happenstance” but for the fact that President Bush will shortly be visiting India and this is not an isolated case.

In recent days, besides the case of Dr. Goverdhan Mehta, there have been a series of visa related foot dragging by the US State Department relating to GOI linked Indian scientists and officials :

1. Dr. Placid Rodriguez

2. Prof. P.C. Kesavan

3. Ali Ahmed Khan

“Coincidence” or “enemy action” from a group opposed to improving relations with India within the State Department?

Hari,

Looks to me like bureaucratic snafus void any anti-whoever sentiment. Post-9/11, the bureaucratic machine will error on the side of caution, which places more weight on the safety of the American public than on the pride of visa applicants.

I am not condoning the perceived slights, just pointing out that in large organizations, things can get lost in the shuffle it they are not shephered through the process, and also that when you do have a sticking point in a bureaucracy, when it rains, it will pour. Such appears to be the case here.

Ahead of President George Bush's visit to India from March 1, the US on Friday apologised for the controversy surrounding the denial of a visa to a top Indian scientist by allowing him to travel to attend a seminar.

"The US embassy is pleased to note that a visa for Mehta was issued today," a press release by the US embassy said in New Delhi.

"Processing of Mehta's visa had been suspended pending its review in Washington. That review has been concluded," it added.

US ambassador David Mulford had called Mehta on Thursday to "express both his apologies and satisfaction that a visa would be issued immediately."

Mehta, former director of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, had charged that he was denied a visa by the US consulate in Chennai as he was suspected of being involved in chemical warfare and bio-terrorism.

A furious Mehta, who was invited to deliver a lecture at the American Chemical Science Society, had asked the Government to take a stand on the issue.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Adam Ereli vehemently denied refusing a visa to Mehta, saying the delay was because of non-receipt of information from him.

"Well, just to get the facts straight, Professor Goverdhan Mehta, a prominent and distinguished Indian scientist, applied for a visa and that visa is being issued," said Ereli at the daily press briefing.

"It was -- there never was a refusal of a visa. There was information that was needed to process the visa application that we did not receive," he reiterated several times at a press briefing on Thursday.

"Because Professor Mehta is engaged in the sciences and in the kind of research that he -- a specific kind of research, US law requires us, in order to be able to issue a visa, to get some information about his activities and the purposes of his visit and all that sort of stuff. That took some time," clarified Ereli.

"And pending the receipt of that information, we weren't in a position, by law, to issue the visa. Once we got the information, we issued the visa."

"Well, it was not. There was never denial of a visa," Ereli stressed.

President APJ Abdul Kalam had reacted to the denial of visa to Mehta in Bangalore recently and said, "While science has no borders, some minds have."

Mehta, a member of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Scientific Advisory Committee and known for his pioneering research in organic chemistry, has been to the US at least a dozen times before. Mehta has been awarded the Padma Shri, one of India's top civilian awards.

Besides Mehta, P Rodriguez, former director of Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, and leading agro-scientist PC Kesavan of MS Swaminathan Research Institute in Chennai have also been denied a visa. The fate of their visa applications is not entirely clear.

Kesavan on Thursday had vowed that he would not ever step into the consulate nor would go to the US after a "humiliating" experience at the US consulate in Chennai while seeking a visa to attend an international seminar.

The American scientific community has reacted strongly to the denial of visa to Indian scientists.

"This leaves a terrible impression of the United States. We want people to know the US is an open and welcoming country," Wendy White, director of the Board of International Scientific Organisations, told The Washington Post.

From HT
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Its pretty surprising to see an Ambassador apologize and goes in length to make sure that the visa is granted. Either US State Dept is playing the ball safe or trying to undo the damage ahead of Bush visit. IIRC this is the first time that a US Consulate has issued apology and granted a visa immediately.

Hope all would go good between the 2 countries!!

Mulford has done enough to breach diplomatic protocol and so none gives a tuppence as to what he says. He is overstepping the norms of diplomatic protocal.

He started admonishing State govts and then giving adverse comments on political parties of India! Imagine even the UK Amabassador interfering with the affairs of say, California directly or the US Ambassador in Pakistan setting camp in NWFP and ordering the State govt what action to take against the AQ !

The diplomatic protocol lays down that if a State govt is undertaking any activity or gives any statement that is against interest of the Ambassador's country, he is to take the issue up with his own govt, which in turn takes the matter up with the Federal or Union Govt of the country where the Ambassador is posted.

Mulford apart, India is looking forward to Bush's visit eagerly.

With the Indian equation warming up with the US, the said scientist has been cleared to visit the US. The US statement is that it did not reject the visa and instead was enquiring into the antecedents of the scientist since the scientist's field of work was of the nature that required a check.

Short of the US Ambassador, the relations with the US is very amiable and getting stronger by the hour as Bush's visit to India gets closer ie. 01 Mar.

Originally Posted by Ray

He started admonishing State govts and then giving adverse comments on political parties of India! Imagine even the UK Amabassador interfering with the affairs of say, California directly

Sir,
Can you send an ambassador that will interefere with politics in southern California? Please?

Originally Posted by shek

Hari,

Looks to me like bureaucratic snafus void any anti-whoever sentiment. Post-9/11, the bureaucratic machine will error on the side of caution, which places more weight on the safety of the American public than on the pride of visa applicants.

Shek,

I would hope that is case and Indo-US relations continue on the path of moving away from one of “estranged democracies” to one of “engaged democracies”.

Ambassador Mulford speaking with Dr. Mehta and then going public, has certainly cleared the air (posted by Jay).

The sensitivity of this issue, at least to me, was not about the “the pride of visa applicants”.

All these individuals have past if not present links to GOI. The merest hint that a past Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister of India could compromise the safety of the American public, was to say the least, distressing.

Jay,

A further development to the HT article you posted :

Top Indian scientist Goverdhan Mehta has declined to accept the American visa

Anil Rane
Feb. 26, 2006

It was too little too late for the Indian scientist. Top Indian scientist Goverdhan Mehta has declined to accept the visa belatedly granted to him by the US, which had earlier denied him the travel document in controversial circumstances.
According to media reports, Mehta, currently working at the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc) here as professor emeritus in the organic chemistry department, on Saturday said it was too late for him to collect the visa as he had already cancelled his trip to the US where he was to deliver a lecture at the University of Florida.

"I cancelled my travel plans to the US the day after the US consulate at Chennai rejected my visa application on Feb 9. I informed the organisers the reason why I will not be able to make it," he told the media.

Ahead of President George W. Bush's visit to India next month, the US Friday apologised for the controversy surrounding the denial of the visa to Mehta and allowed him to travel to attend the seminar.

But Mehta reacted said what the US had done was "too little, too late".
"Though it is good to know they have tried to correct the wrong done to me, there is no question of reconsidering my decision to decline it at this stage," he said.

Mehta had charged that he was denied a visa by the US consulate as he was suspected of being involved in chemical warfare and bio-terrorism.
He was scheduled to leave for the US late Friday for a two-week lecture tour at the invitation of the American Chemical Society.

"This was not the first time I had applied for a US visa. I had been there (US) several times as a visiting professor and at the invitation of many scientific organisations for conferences and seminars over the years," he said.
"In spite of my track record, I was surprised to be denied a visa this time though all the relevant papers were in order. I was embarrassed at the way they conducted the interview. I felt humiliated. I decided there was no point in arguing."

Appreciating US Ambassador David Mulford for calling him to apologise for the denial of the visa, Mehta said he was relieved to learn that he was not at fault.
"When Mulford called me early this week and regretted the incident, I thanked him for the gesture but explained to him my position to decline the visa. I am glad the controversy has been put to rest though the issue remains to be addressed," he said.

"The issue is a generic one and relates to the free interaction of scientists and their participation in various international activities without being subject to any restriction or humiliation. It is not only an issue concerned with scientists in India but all over the world."

Asked whether he would travel to the US again should the need arise, Mehta said he would have no problem to consider such an opportunity provided he was granted visa as before without casting aspersions on his integrity, bona fides and standing in the profession.

"I keep getting offers and invitations not only from the US, but also other countries. In fact, I have one such invite from the US for a trip in April. I am yet to decide on it. I have nothing personal against the US. But considering what I have gone through recently, I have not made up my mind," he said.

Originally Posted by Hari_Om

Shek,

I would hope that is case and Indo-US relations continue on the path of moving away from one of “estranged democracies” to one of “engaged democracies”.

Ambassador Mulford speaking with Dr. Mehta and then going public, has certainly cleared the air (posted by Jay).

The sensitivity of this issue, at least to me, was not about the “the pride of visa applicants”.

All these individuals have past if not present links to GOI. The merest hint that a past Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister of India could compromise the safety of the American public, was to say the least, distressing.

Hari,
I am sure you are familiar with Khan from Pakistan. While his example may be 1 in 1000, 10000, fill in the blank, nonetheless, it is something that all countries need to be aware of, to include scientists visiting India (I use him not as an example of someone who stole secrets, but rather as someone who passes secrets on to the wrong hands).