KRISHNA 3 LST

Asked about the recent incident of a farmer couple from
Karnataka who were bundled back by French officials at the
Paris airport while they were on way to meet their son in
Finland, Krishna said the French government had regretted the
incident.

The French authorities have promised to hold an inquiry
and provide its report to India within a week.

59-year-old K N Ashok Kumar, a farmer, and his wife
Meenakshamma (46) from Hassan district in Karnataka were in
transit in Paris and headed for Finland to meet their son K A
Darpam Gowda when they were stopped by French officials for
not carrying the invitation letter sent by their son.

The Minister said those who travel outside the country
should carry documents of invitations. In this case, he said,
the letter of invitation was handed over to the visa issuing
authority in Chennai but the couple had not carried a copy
with them.

On the attacks on Indian students in Australia, Krishna
said that there was a "qualitative change" in the situation
and there were no incidents of attacks on students since his
visit last month.

"This is a positive development," he said commending the
Australian authorities in tackling the problem. "I am glad
that they have kept their promise. From the Indian students'
perspective, it is quiet and normal there," he said.

He said he will raise the issue of handing over of Bodo
outfit NDFB's chief Ranjan Daimary during his meeting with
visiting Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni day after
Sunday. PTI