New Delhi, October 1
India today conveyed to the United States that its blacklisting of two Indian scientists on charges of assisting in the Iranian nuclear programme was a clear case of error and demanded reversal of the decision, diplomatic sources told The Tribune.
The Government of India’s stand was conveyed to the Americans through the diplomatic channels. The Ministry of External Affairs asked Washington to withdraw the sanctions imposed on the two Indian scientists — C. Surendar and Dr Y.S.R. Prasad — but there was no assurance from the American officials here that this would be done, sources said.
The Indian scientists have been blacklisted by Washington under the Iran Non-Proliferation Act of the year 2000 which legislates that anybody found helping Iranians’ nuclear capability will be penalised. Under this UN dispensation, the blacklisted individuals would be denied US contracts and would not be allowed to work for any US entity.
However, the sources described the US sanctions as meaningless and “merely symbolic” because the two scientists in question are neither a company nor engaged in any private business.
MEA spokesman Navtej Sarna said: “Indeed, one of the individuals named C. Surendar has never visited Iran while in service or post retirement. Dr Y.S.R. Prasad initially visited Iran under the aegis of the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme. Thereafter, he provided consultancy on safety related aspects connected with (Iran’s) Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant which is under IAEA safeguards. He has not visited Iran since mid-2003.”
The spokesman flatly rejected all charges of misconduct on the part of the two Indian scientists. “No sale of materials, equipment and technologies was involved. No transfer of sensitive technology has taken place. Government of India’s commitment to prevent onward proliferation is second to none and our track record in this regard is well-known.”
