Visa matters are sovereign functions, says MEA on Bharat Summit row
The Ministry of External Affairs defended its visa decisions after reports that over 100 foreign speakers were denied entry to a Congress event.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday defended India's visa decisions as sovereign functions of the government. This response followed reports that more than 100 foreign speakers invited to the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad were denied entry or had their visas cancelled, according to reports by The Times of India, India Today, and Telegraph India.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated during a bi-weekly media briefing that visa matters are sovereign functions of any country or government. He was responding to queries regarding the reported denial or revocation of visas for foreign invitees to the summit, which is being held in Hyderabad on November 13 and 14.
Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng claimed her visa, which was granted by the Indian embassy in Norway, was cancelled shortly before her scheduled departure. Lyng, who was due to participate in a panel on media and press freedom, alleged her visa was cancelled due to 'orders from above' in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The Congress party, which is organising the summit alongside the Telangana government, questioned why the government was afraid of questions. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of having a dictatorial mindset regarding the reported restrictions on foreign journalists.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor described the reported cancellations as a 'disappointing footnote' to the summit. Meanwhile, the BJP defended the decisions, branding the gathering an 'Anti-Bharat Summit' and accusing the Congress of bringing together radical Left and anti-India groups.
Former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal criticised the Norwegian side, calling their conduct 'unacceptable' and suggesting a tougher response regarding the grant of visas to Norwegian journalists.
