New Delhi: Expressing concern over the
plight of scores of Indian students radio-tagged by the US
authorities, BJP on Sunday demanded the government "pro-actively"
take up the issue with that country.
"The Ministry of External Affairs will have to be more
assertive in making sure that the students are not denied
justice in any way," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.
"... we already feel that the students have been put to
absolute inhuman treatment. They are not cattle in a ranch to
be given an electronic gadget, to be collared, and to be
monitored every minute of their stay there," she said.
After being duped by California-based Tri-Valley
University, scores of Indian students in the US are now
enduring the ignominy of being forced to wear radio collars
around their ankles so that authorities can keep track of
their movements.
The students, mostly from Andhra Pradesh, may also be
deported as authorities shut down the University on charges of
a massive immigration fraud.
Sitharaman maintained that the BJP was very concerned
about the state of affairs and the condition of Indian
students, who for no fault of theirs, had enrolled in a
university which apparently was registered by law in the US.
"The government of India was only giving a delayed
response. Now again due to the media and the students own
parents, the Government of India seems to be taking steps
which are not adequate," she said.
BJP said that the students were not at fault as they had
followed all legal procedures and alleged that the treatment
meted out to them violates their "human and fundamental
rights".
"We condemn this. The US government should understand
that these students have after all gone there with their visa
duly obtained. If the university is illegal, it was for them
to sort the matter out," she said.
BJP demanded that the Indian government take a "far more
proactive role" to ensure that these students are absolutely
safe and not treated in a way which they are violative of
their fundamental right.
"The government should assert its right and make sure
the US government gives them access to proper judicial process
and ensure that these students are given an option of wanting
to further pursue or come back," Sitharaman said.
Describing the collaring of students as "degrading",
Sitharaman said they were living in an "uncertain, insecure
environment".
PTI
