US assures India of 'fair solution' to TVU students

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Feb 16 (PTI) The United States has assured
India of providing 'fair solution' to Indian students affected
by the closure of California-based Tri Valley University,
which has been accused of a massive visa fraud.
The Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
William Burns has assured Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama
Rao, during a meeting, that the US Government would provide a
"fair solution" to hundreds of Indian students whose academic
career were at stake following closure of the Tri Valley
University.
"It (Tri Valley University) was a very important
subject among various issues that I discussed. Especially in
my discussion with the Under Secretary Bill Burns I took the
matter up and conveyed our concern about the welfare of the
students who have been affected by this unfortunate series of
events involving Tri Valley University," Rao told reporters at
a news conference as she concluded her Washington leg of her
US visit.
Rao was following up TV University issue with top US
officials, days after Indian External Affairs Minister S M
Krishna raised it in a telephonic conversation with the US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
On Monday, Indian Ambassador to the US Meera Shankar
conveyed to Clinton India's concerns on the issue.
"I was assured by Under Secretary Burns that this is
what the US Government is looking at and they want to provide
a fair solution to this very very rare and critical problem
that many of the students face, many of the students who were
enrolled in Tri Valley University face," Rao said.
Over the next few days, the Indian Embassy is going to
be in touch with the State Department on this issue.
"Our stress, our emphasis has been on seeking a
solution that would help the students who have been affected
by this unfortunate development and enable them to find
alternative placements in bonafide universities without
affecting their future," Rao said.
During the meeting, with Burns, Rao stressed India's
concern about the large number of bonafide students who have
been adversely affected by the events surrounding T V
University and uncovering of the scam that were concerning
that university.
"Our concern was that the future of the students
should not be affected and to whatever extent possible this
number of students who have not really many of them not been
involved in any illegal or negative activities should be
accommodate in other universities, should be enable to
transfer to other universities without determent or without
any disadvantage," she said.
Responding to questions, the Foreign Secretary
stressed that this rare incident would not affect the "India
Brand" in the US.
"I do not believe that it would affect the image of
Indian students coming to this country. I think there is
enormous appreciation and I can sense that in our conversation
with our American friends in the US Government. They see the
talent and the capability and the intellectual levels of our
students who rank among the best anywhere in the world," she
said.
The flow of students from India will continue and
should not be affected by what has happened.
"This is a stray incident and you must think of the
over 100,000 students from India who come to this country for
university education and who excel in the fields that they
have chosen. That is the prevailing and overriding image of
the Indian students in this country. That has not changed,”
she said.
One has to see the story of Tri Valley as totally
apart from this positive story, the constructive narrative
involving Indian students coming to this country and indeed
contributing to the growth of the economy and to the success
of America as a country, she said.