Indian Student Issued U.S. Visa for NASA Trip

Bangalore: Ratul Khan, one among the seven students selected for the 14-day trip to NASA, has been granted visa by the U.S. government. He was earlier rejected visa, which caused a controversy and various organizations including the powerful All Assam Students' Union (AASU) threatened to protest against this injustice.

"The student will leave for New Delhi later this evening and fly to the US from there tomorrow along with the other six students selected for the trip," a statement released from Chief Minister Tarun  Gogoi's office yesterday said.

It added: "Yesterday, Chief Minister Gogoi had requested the office of the US ambassador in India to facilitate Khan's visa. Following this the US consul general in Kolkata told Gogoi over the phone that Ratul Khan would be issued the visa to facilitate him to undertake the trip", reports PTI.

Khan was selected by the Assam government for the 14-day educational trip to NASA as part of the 'Deba Kumar Bora Memorial NASA Visit'. Khan and the 6 other students are toppers in High School Leaving Certificate and Assam High Madrassa Examination conducted by the Board of Secondary Education Assam (SEBA) this year.

The six other students were granted visa earlier and the reason behind rejecting Khan’s visa still remains unknown.