Allegations of Visa Restrictions Impacting Bharat Summit Speakers

A recent political dispute has arisen concerning the Bharat Summit held in Hyderabad, with allegations that a significant number of invited speakers were denied entry into India or had their visas canceled. The controversy centers on claims made by Indian National Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who stated that 115 out of 315 speakers cleared by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) faced these restrictions. The summit, which aimed to bring together delegates from approximately 70 countries to discuss democracy and global affairs, took place on November 13 and 14.

The MEA has responded by stating that visa decisions are a sovereign matter for any country. However, the specific ministry or authority behind the alleged cancellations has not been officially identified, and the exact number of affected speakers remains unconfirmed by official sources. This situation has sparked debate about the transparency and fairness of India’s visa processes for international conferences.

Details of the Allegations

Shashi Tharoor brought the issue to public attention on November 13, stating he learned of the restrictions after arriving in Hyderabad. He indicated that he had assisted the summit organizers with the visa process for speakers. According to Tharoor, the 115 individuals were part of a larger group of 315 speakers who had initially received clearance from the MEA. He further alleged that the restrictions were a result of instructions from the Home Ministry, though this remains an unverified claim.

Pushparaj Deshpande, the curator of the Bharat Summit, corroborated Tharoor’s account of restrictions affecting speakers. However, no official source has confirmed the specific figure of 115 individuals being denied entry or having their visas canceled. The reported outcomes for the affected individuals varied, with some being outright refused entry and others experiencing visa cancellations. Tharoor questioned the legal basis for these decisions, particularly noting that they occurred too late for many guests to adjust their travel plans.

Individual Cases Highlighted

The allegations are supported by specific accounts from individuals who were expected to attend the summit. Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng Svendsen reported that the Indian embassy in Oslo informed her on November 11 that she could not travel, just about ten minutes before she was scheduled to depart for the airport. Svendsen stated that she held a valid Indian visa and had received political clearance for her visit. She attributed the decision to Home Ministry orders, although this has not been independently verified. Svendsen was invited to speak on the topic of media and press freedom.

Another case involved Pascal Affi N’Guessan, a former Prime Minister of Ivory Coast, who was reportedly questioned for six hours at Hyderabad airport. According to N’Guessan’s office, his communications secretary was denied a visa. While these individual cases provide concrete examples of the difficulties faced by some speakers, they do not independently confirm the total number cited by Tharoor.

Official Responses and Political Reactions

In response to the controversy, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated at a media briefing that “Visa matters are sovereign functions of any country or any government.” He did not specify whether the MEA or another ministry was responsible for any cancellations.

The summit was hosted by the Congress-led Telangana government. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy criticized the visa cancellations, expressing confusion about why the BJP would be concerned about diverse opposition voices. He suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi might be attempting to suppress dissenting opinions. Leaders from the BJP, including Union minister G. Kishan Reddy and Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao, criticized the summit itself and questioned its financial expenditures.

Congress leader Gurdeep Singh Sappal clarified that the event was an initiative of the Telangana government, rather than a direct Congress party event. The Editors Guild of India issued a statement condemning the cancellation of Helle Lyng Svendsen’s visa and called for the reasons to be disclosed and the decision to be reversed. Former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal suggested that India should exercise greater caution when granting visas to Norwegian journalists.

As of the reporting date, the Home Ministry had not issued a public statement regarding the allegations. The MEA had not identified the authority responsible for any cancellations, and no official had confirmed the specific figure of 115 affected speakers. The situation remains under observation, with a potential response from the Home Ministry being the next development to watch.

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