IN WHAT is seen as a punitive action against scientists for India's achievement in the nuclear field, the Clinton administration has asked seven Indian scientists working in the US to leave the country. According to a leaked memorandum by US energy secretary Federico Pena, 75 other Indian scientists working in the US laboratories on exchange and fellowship programmes may be asked to return home too.
"The US feels that by continuing its relationship with India in the nuclear and missile field, it may contribute towards further development of nuclear weapons by India. Under these circumstances, the US would like to maintain a distance with India," said K K Munshi, press counselor, the US embassy, New Delhi.
In addition to R Chidambaram, chairperson of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission, a physicist at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, was denied visa to attend a meet in Colorado. The US state department said that it was reviewing science and technology relationship with India. The review would determine "whether or not certain Indian scientists in the US would need to return to India".
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