Very sure it's pressure from China, says activist after being denied visa
New Delhi: After cancelling Chinese dissident and Uyghur activist Dolkun Isa’s visa, India has now denied visas to Chinese dissidents Lu Jinghua from New York and Ray Wong from Hong Kong, who were to attend a conference in Dharamsala on China and democracy, in what is seen as a clear signal that it does not want to annoy Beijing.
"I 100 per cent believe it's the Chinese government's pressure on India. I think China has given an economic business deal to India in exchange," Jinghua told NDTV.
Read: India denies visa to two activists, says information not accurate
Government sources, however, said the visas were denied due to “inconsistencies” in the documentation of the two dissidents, Lu Jinghua and Ray Wong.
"Wrong application is a lie. I followed all directions. I was not given any reason," the activist said, adding, “I thought India is a free country. No other country ever had a problem with me. I just wanted to meet the Dalai Lama and pay respect to him.”
"I always thought positively about the Indian government, which allows Tibetans in exile," she added.
Read: Visa row: Dolkun Isa 'suppressed' facts, says India; denies entry to two others
India is also keen not to annoy China at this juncture, with a visit by President Pranab Mukherjee to China likely in the near future. “As far as Lu Jinghua is concerned, her documents were illegible and there was inconsistency with the purpose of her visit. As far as Ray Wong is concerned, there was data inconsistency in his documents. As such visas were not issued to both these individuals, so the question of revocation doesn’t arise,” sources said.
Lu is a well-known Tiananmen activist, while Ray is a prominent Hong Kong dissident.
Anxious to dispel the notion that India bowed to Chinese pressure on Dolkun Isa, India earlier defended its decision to cancel his visa, saying Isa had “suppressed” the fact that he would attend a conference while seeking a tourist visa, but admitted China had made its clear to New Delhi that it should honour the Interpol “red corner” notice against him.
Read: India cancels visa of Chinese dissident Dolkun Isa
“Isa applied for a tourist visa under the electronic travel system. He was accordingly granted the visa. After obtaining the visa, Isa said publicly he was coming to attend a conference. A fact which was suppressed in the visa form and something that a tourist visa does not permit,” MEA spokesman Vikas Swarup said.
