New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government has cancelled the visa given to a leading Uyghur dissident to participate in a conference in Dharamsala. The revocation is being seen as a move made under pressure from China.
The cancellation is a U-turn on India’s part after having issued it to Mr Dolkun Isa only last week. Mr Isa, a leader of World Uyghur Congress, was invited to the conference organised by the US-based “Initiatives for China”.
Defending the decision, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said Mr Isa had applied for the travel document in the wrong category. “He (Dolkun Isa) had given wrong information on why he wanted to visit India. The e-visa application said he wanted to come as a tourist though he was coming here to attend a conference, and that is why we had to cancel his visa,” he said.
The minister said India would have had to arrest Mr Isa if he visited here as an Inter-pol red corner notice is pending against him. Mr Isa’s name does not figure in the list of wanted people published by Interpol.
Action may be due to china’s pressure: Isa
In a U-turn, India has cancelled the visa given to a leading Chinese dissident to participate in a conference in Dharamsala, apparently buckling under pressure from China.
Reacting to the Indian move, Isa said, “On April 23, I got a very short note by the Indian side that my visa is cancelled. There was no explanation.”
He said he did not know what exactly was the reason for it. “May be because of Chinese pressure put on the Indian government. But, I do not know...I did not get any explanation from the Indian side,” he said.
China’s unhappiness about reports that Isa has been given the visa was reflected in Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying saying, “What I want to point out is that Dolkun is a terrorist in red notice of the Interpol and Chinese police. Bringing him to justice is due obligation of relevant countries.”
BJP MP irked by Stand on China
After blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the BJP’s loss in the Bihar Assembly elections, party MP Bhola Singh on Monday attacked the NDA government’s “friendly” policy towards China. Cheered by Shiv Sena MPs and supported by the BJD in the Lok Sabha, Mr Singh cited the growing trade deficit with China to demand a ban on import of Chinese goods.
“That country (China) is the reason for all of our problems, and, yet, the government is pursuing good friendly relations. Trade deficit is mounting, while our industries have been destroyed," Mr Singh said He asked why India should not ban Chinese imports.
