DATE=7/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236042
TITLE=INDIA / SCIENTISTS / L-O
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA HAS CRITICIZED THE UNITED STATES FOR ASKING SEVEN
INDIAN SCIENTISTS TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY UNDER SANCTIONS IMPOSED
AFTER INDIAN NUCLEAR TESTS. FROM V-O-A'S SOUTH ASIA BUREAU,
ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL ASSIST
THE AFFECTED SCIENTISTS.
TEXT: LAWMAKERS, GOVERNMENT MINISTERS, SCIENTISTS AND NEWSPAPERS
CONDEMNED THE U-S ACTION AGAINST THE INDIAN SCIENTISTS AS
UNPROVOKED AND UNFORTUNATE.
THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE SEVEN SCIENTISTS WERE ASKED TO
LEAVE THE COUNTRY BY END AUGUST AS PART OF A GOVERNMENT REVIEW OF
TECHNOLOGY TIES AFTER NEW DELHI'S NUCLEAR TESTS.
THE SCIENTISTS WERE ON FELLOWSHIPS AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF
STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY AT MARYLAND. ALTHOUGH THE INDIAN
GOVERNMENT SAYS THEIR RESEARCH WAS NOT LINKED WITH INDIA'S
NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM -- THEY REPRESENT INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED
WITH NEW DELHI'S NUCLEAR OR MISSILE PROGRAMS.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MINISTER MURLI MANOHAR JOSHI SAYS HE
EXPECTED MORE MATURE BEHAVIOR FROM THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
TOWARDS RESEARCHERS AND SCIENTISTS. HE SAYS SCIENCE IS AS AN
AREA FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR HUMAN WELFARE -- AND
SHOULD NOT BE REDUCED TO A "BALL GAME FOR SERVING PARTISAN
INTERESTS."
MR. JOSHI SAYS INDIA'S SCIENTIFIC EFFORTS WILL NOT SUFFER AS A
RESULT OF THE U-S ACTION.
THE CABINET MINISTER'S CONDEMNATION WAS ECHOED BY OTHER POLITICAL
PARTIES. CONGRESS PARTY SPOKESMEN CALLED IT "PETTY-MINDED".
IN AN EDITORIAL, THE "INDIAN EXPRESS DAILY" SAYS THE U-S ACTION
HAS A SIMILARITY TO THE THE 60'S, WHEN SCIENTISTS FROM EITHER
SIDE OF THE IRON CURTAIN WERE KEPT SCRUPULOUSLY APART BY THEIR
GOVERNMENTS. THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THE U-S ACTION HAS NO RELEVANCE
IN THE PRESENT DAY.
// OPT // THE "HINDUSTAN TIMES" NEWSPAPER DESCRIBES THE
SCIENTISTS' EXPULSION AS "PEEVISH PETTINESS" AND SAID IT WAS
BOUND TO PROVE FUTILE, IN THE LONG RUN. // END OPT //
TOP RESEARCH SCIENTISTS CALLED THE U-S STEP "CHILDISH." THE
DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED STUDIES, RODDAM
NARASIMHA, SAYS THE ACTION IS PART OF A GROWING BARRIER TO
SCIENTIFIC EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.
EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE HEAD OF INDIA'S ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
-- R. CHIDAMBARAM -- WAS DENIED A VISA TO ATTEND A SCIENTIFIC
CONFERENCE NEAR WASHINGTON.
HOWEVER, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MINISTER JOSH, SAYS THE U-S STEP
DOES NOT MEAN THAT EXISTING INDO-AMERICAN AGREEMENTS ON
SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE BACKBURNER (DELAYED).
(SIGNED)
NEB / WD / WD
26-Jul-98 6:47 AM EDT (1047 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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