India has not taken up diplomatically the issue of US Ambassador Nancy Powell's remark that "fear of being raped was keeping American students out" as it feels that women security in the country was not an issue with the Americans only but with other countries also.
"It is an issue not only for the US," a top government sources said, adding even for other countries also this a matter of concern.
Addressing the students of Xavier Institute of Social Science (XISS) in Ranchi earlier this week, Powell had said, "The fear of being raped is keeping American students out of India" adding that the high rate of rapes in the country had created an adverse image of India abroad.
"The concern for personal security and perceived increased danger to women as a result of the rape cases was perhaps a factor in US students' decision regarding study in India," the US envoy had said.
The source also said even the December 16 gangrape was carried in media in various countries as it had "struck a cord" among people there and they could not believe that this could happen in the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Gautam Buddha.
