Chidambaram withdrew visa application 8212; US

The sources, however, admitted that US has a policy of denying visa to 8220;selected people8221; particularly scientists in the nuclear field to prevent 8220;unwanted transfer of technology8221;.

There is always a review of this law, they said. 8220;Probably, after the Indian nuclear tests, there is increased interest along this lines on this issue. So in that sense denial of visa to Chidambaram would be a direct result of the tests.8221;

Chidambaram, along with top nuclear scientists APJ Abdul Kalam had played an instrumental role in carrying out the Pokharan nuclear explosions in May. He said the issue should not be blown out of proportion as it was not theend of Indo-American science ties. He said he was planning to attend the annual meeting of the International Union of Crystallography in Alabama beginning today in his individual capacity as its vice-president and as a crystallographer.