Biologist Kesavan returns from US consulate without visa

Told to fill out what he calls his 8220;entire biographical sketch8221;, he was turned away after being told 8220;we are not denying you a visa but only delaying it8221;.

The Consulate retained his passport. Kesavan dubbed it as the 8220;most demeaning and humiliating experience8221;. Prof M S Swaminathan, chairman of MSSRF and Father of India8217;s Green Revolution, told The Indian Express that the 8220;action was regrettable8221; and that 8220;there was a need to de-link politics from science8221;. Swaminathan said that if the US government had framed a new policy of not giving visas to eminent scientists then it should be widely publicized so that 8220;it does not cause embarrassment to the individuals who would then not apply for the same8221;.