|
|
Govt examining visa rules, may amend if required: Home Secretary Faced with criticism for its guidelines on Conference Visas that make it mandatory for academics and scholars from eight countries including China and Pakistan to seek clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Government said it was examining the issue and will come up with changes, if required.
‘We have received a large number of representations from various quarters and are examining the issue in consultations with a number of agencies,’ Union Home Secretary G K Pillai said, addressing a seminar on ‘Thought Policing or Fighting Terror’.
As per the revised guidelines issued in July last year, prior security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs is required in respect of participants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Iran, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Sudan, foreigners of Pakistani origin and stateless persons.
The clearance by the MHA is also needed if the participation involves visit to restricted or protected areas in India or areas affected by terrorism, militancy and extremism like Jammu and Kashmir and North-Eastern states or if the conference involves politically and socially sensitive subjects.
Mr Pillai said the Visa matter was not closed and the Government will try to make changes if needed.
In any case, 99.9 per cent of the conference Visa requests get okayed and only one or two get rejected, he asserted.
He also clarified that there would be absolutely no problems if the scholar or academic was ‘genuine’ and from a registered university like the Dhaka University.
On the clause regarding visit to certain areas in India, the Home Secretary said, ‘Obviously, a Chinese going to Arunachal Pradesh should need a MHA nod knowing their considered stand of the state being a disputed territory.’ Denying that the restrictions were meant to control free flow of ideas, he said, ‘No decision of the Government satisfies everybody. We are not trying to control free speech. But in the present scenario, security imperatives cannot be ignored.’
UNI
|