"Well, let us understand one thing. There are about 1.8 lakh Indian students in the United States of America. And we are now talking about these 12 or 18 students who have been subjected to this treatment. I would appeal to the people of the country and to the media in particular, that we should look at it in the larger perspective of these one lakh and odd Indian students who are pursuing their studies in various universities."
These are the words of SM Krishna India’s Minister of External Affairs, on the radio tagging of Indian students, in Pleasanton, California. The Indian Government seems to have thrown the fate of the 1500 odd Indian students, held on charges of Immigration and visa fraud to the wolves. It is a sad day for the country when its Government turns its back to the rights of its citizens.
Immigration and visa fraud is a serious offence and needs to be punished, but there has to be a clear distinction between the victim and the perpetuator of crime and America has to realize this. The Indian students had gone to the US on valid visas issued by the US consulates, which we assume are given only after a diligent verification of the students education credentials and the legal status of the University. To a large extent the US administration has been lax in identifying and acting against sham Universities. If there was any shard of suspicion the students applying for admission to the Tri Valley University should have been warned of its suspect status.
If there is to be retribution then all three parties to the alleged fraud need to punished, the management of Tri Valley University which defrauded students to the tune of lakhs of rupees and is responsible for their present predicament, the US Administration for failing to detect and act against this sham University and the students who willingly took the risk of a US visa through the dubious route promised by Tri Valley and to a lesser extent the students who fell for the University’s promise of work visa’s. The Management of Tri Valley University with its band of lawyers is walking free, the US Administration has donned the garb of the victim and absolved it self of all guilt and the least culpable of the three the helpless and alienated students have been made out to be prime suspects and are being treated as common criminals, and tagged like animals and criminals and delinquents on parole.
It is high time the Government of India especially the Minister of External Affairs took up the cudgels on behalf of our students. Young people go in for higher education overseas to enrich their knowledge and experience, and to further their career and life goals. What they do not expect is to be harassed, detained, made out to be criminals and tagged under threats of confinement. The moral and psychological trauma these young people are going through can only be imagined. They are condemned to go through life carrying the scars of this humiliation.
India is ta major contributor of revenue to the American education Sector Indian students studying in the US contribute more than 10bn USD to US revenue. The US needs the Indian students as much as our students aspire for the US dream. It is time for India to take a stand and fight for the rights of its citizen the world over. India needs to make it clear to the American administration that if it does not remove the radio tags from the students and ensure they have access to their families and legal and medical help and financial redress for the trauma and the loss of money and an academic year, then it will have no recourse except to prohibit Indian students from taking admission in the US universities. This will have the desired effect on the world stage, and will carry the message to all nations that India can and will stand up for the rights of its citizens.
For long have Indians suffered racial abuse in Australia, UK, USA, Middle East and even Sri Lanka. It is high time the Indian Government took a strong stand against the atrocities committed on its people and ensure they receive the respect and dignity that every human being has a right to.
By Neera Kishore
Courtesy Hindi Milap
Showing posts with label us. Show all posts
Showing posts with label us. Show all posts
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Let’s be vary of Uncle Sam’s iron hand
The proverbial velvet glove of the American Administration seems to be slowly slipping away to reveal the iron hand underneath. In the last decade the US of A has deteriorated to a Nation of paranoid administrators, and conspiracy theorists who see a terrorist lurking behind every skirt and under every head gear. Mohamed Atta had his team have destroyed much more than the twin towers of the world trade center on that fateful day, they seem to have ripped apart the very fabric of American society. No where is this more apparent than the aggressive “us” vs. “them” ideology of the American Administration.
The change in American policy and outlook can be summarized in two words “pre emptive annihilation”. It was started by George Bush Jr leading his country in the first crusade against terror in Afghanistan, followed by the misadventure in Iraq, and has culminated into body searches and pat downs that have not spared even diplomats and visiting foreign dignitaries.
The concretization of this mindset can be seen in the US of A’s response to Wikileaks, a band of computer whiz kids and journalists. The American politburo, cutting across party lines has been baying for the blood of Julian Assange, editor in chief Wikileaks, Republican leader Sarah Palin has likened Assange to an al-Qaida operative, Newt Gingrich has dubbed him an information terrorist and Mike Huckabee has called for his execution. The Democrats are not far behind, they want him charged under the U.S. espionage act, and are calling for the law to be changed to allow a prosecution of WikiLeaks. Leaders, army officials, and other public figures threaten dire consequences and even call for Assange's assassination.
The US has launched a multi fronted financial, political, diplomatic and plain old threats and coercion, attack on Wikileaks. Julian Assange is fighting extradition to Sweden. Paypal, Visa and Mastercard have stopped processing donations to the website, allegedly after Congressional staffers and leaders in Government called up these companies and threatened them.
US has arm twisted several nations and world policing organizations to fall in line chiefly France, Switzerland, and Sweden. Sweden has been pressurized into filing a criminal case and issuing an international arrest warrant on the basis of an obscure law drawing on an alleged incident of 'condom breaking during intercourse' against Assange, and Interpol has been prevailed upon to issue a 'Red Corner' notice for the same 'crime!!! Under pressure from the US, French industry minister Eric Besson has allegedly written to internet companies warning them of “consequences” for dealing with WikiLeaks.
But what is worrying for the world community is the American “us” vs. “them” policy that views all countries toeing the American line no matter what their track record example Pakistan favorably while coercing other free thinking Nations like India to fall in with the American thinking. The design of the American Administration to control and manipulate the world bodies is out in the open, diplomats including envoys to the UN and are spied upon and installations vital to US interests monitored.
More ominous is the fact that the US today does not shy away from openly threatening countries like India to toe the US line. US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia and Central Asia Robert O Blake has publicly suggested that India's voting pattern at the United Nations Security Council during its forthcoming two-year term commencing January would have a bearing on India's prospects of realizing its bid to become a permanent member. He pointed out that records show that India voted only 10 percent of the time alongside the US on important issues at the world body. He then added, 'Over time that is going to change. That is going to change not because of pressure of the United States, but because of India's own desire to take up greater global responsibilities. That would surely be reflected in its voting record.'
Robert Blake’s statement is the bugle cry for India to be ever vigilant in its dealings with the US and be wary of falling into the honey trap of a permanent non voting seat in the UNSC laid down by President Obama. In the last half century India has attained a stature far beyond any emerging Nation can hope to aspire to as a Non aligned state. No amount of military support, nuclear technology transfer or the aspired to permanent seat in the Security Council is worth the price of pledging India’s sovereignty.
by Neera Kishore
courtesy: Hindi Milap, Hyderabad
The change in American policy and outlook can be summarized in two words “pre emptive annihilation”. It was started by George Bush Jr leading his country in the first crusade against terror in Afghanistan, followed by the misadventure in Iraq, and has culminated into body searches and pat downs that have not spared even diplomats and visiting foreign dignitaries.
The concretization of this mindset can be seen in the US of A’s response to Wikileaks, a band of computer whiz kids and journalists. The American politburo, cutting across party lines has been baying for the blood of Julian Assange, editor in chief Wikileaks, Republican leader Sarah Palin has likened Assange to an al-Qaida operative, Newt Gingrich has dubbed him an information terrorist and Mike Huckabee has called for his execution. The Democrats are not far behind, they want him charged under the U.S. espionage act, and are calling for the law to be changed to allow a prosecution of WikiLeaks. Leaders, army officials, and other public figures threaten dire consequences and even call for Assange's assassination.
The US has launched a multi fronted financial, political, diplomatic and plain old threats and coercion, attack on Wikileaks. Julian Assange is fighting extradition to Sweden. Paypal, Visa and Mastercard have stopped processing donations to the website, allegedly after Congressional staffers and leaders in Government called up these companies and threatened them.
US has arm twisted several nations and world policing organizations to fall in line chiefly France, Switzerland, and Sweden. Sweden has been pressurized into filing a criminal case and issuing an international arrest warrant on the basis of an obscure law drawing on an alleged incident of 'condom breaking during intercourse' against Assange, and Interpol has been prevailed upon to issue a 'Red Corner' notice for the same 'crime!!! Under pressure from the US, French industry minister Eric Besson has allegedly written to internet companies warning them of “consequences” for dealing with WikiLeaks.
But what is worrying for the world community is the American “us” vs. “them” policy that views all countries toeing the American line no matter what their track record example Pakistan favorably while coercing other free thinking Nations like India to fall in with the American thinking. The design of the American Administration to control and manipulate the world bodies is out in the open, diplomats including envoys to the UN and are spied upon and installations vital to US interests monitored.
More ominous is the fact that the US today does not shy away from openly threatening countries like India to toe the US line. US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia and Central Asia Robert O Blake has publicly suggested that India's voting pattern at the United Nations Security Council during its forthcoming two-year term commencing January would have a bearing on India's prospects of realizing its bid to become a permanent member. He pointed out that records show that India voted only 10 percent of the time alongside the US on important issues at the world body. He then added, 'Over time that is going to change. That is going to change not because of pressure of the United States, but because of India's own desire to take up greater global responsibilities. That would surely be reflected in its voting record.'
Robert Blake’s statement is the bugle cry for India to be ever vigilant in its dealings with the US and be wary of falling into the honey trap of a permanent non voting seat in the UNSC laid down by President Obama. In the last half century India has attained a stature far beyond any emerging Nation can hope to aspire to as a Non aligned state. No amount of military support, nuclear technology transfer or the aspired to permanent seat in the Security Council is worth the price of pledging India’s sovereignty.
by Neera Kishore
courtesy: Hindi Milap, Hyderabad
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