Virginia Governor Timothy M Kaine has announced that he will not lead the delegation of business leaders and economic development officials on a scheduled trade mission to India between April 22-28, but will remain in Richmond to coordinate the state's response to the tragedy at Virginia Tech University.
The mission, which includes a delegation of more than 100 Virginia business and government leaders, including several Indian American entrepreneurs, will however continue, he said, and would be led by the Secretary of Commerce and Trade Patrick O Gottschalk and Secretary of Technology Aneesh P Chopra. The delegation is slated to visit New Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai.
Kaine said, "As we grieve for those we lost and work to support others, there have been many outpourings of support from people all over the globe. In fact, the Tech tragedy claimed the lives of a student and a professor with direct family ties to India, and a portion of this trip included discussions about a Tech program based in India."
Among the 33 killed in the massacre perpetrated by a student of South Korean Origin Cho Seung-Hui, 23, were Professor G V Loganathan, 51, who was a professor in the University's Civil and Engineering Department for the past 15 years, and Minal Panchal, 26, from Mumbai, who was in her first year of a master's program in building sciences.
Kaine said: "as we begin the healing process, I feel that my place is here with our citizens, and I deeply regret that I am unable to travel to India for this trade mission."
But he expressed confidence that "under the leadership of Secretaries Gottschalk and Chopra, this delegation will make valuable contacts and promote increased economic and cultural ties between Virginia and India."