Monday, March 21, 2016

Visa Denials Expose Indian Fanaticism



By Sarah Khan

Since India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come into power BJP’s discriminatory policies towards Indian Muslims, repeated visa denials to Pakistan and even US teams, and growing religious extremism have alarmed the international community. Last Week, the Indian government failed to issue visas to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in time for a long planned trip to India. A three-member delegation of USCIRF wanted to make a one-week visit to meet with government officials, religious leaders and activists in India. The goal of the Commission’s trip was to discuss and assess religious freedom conditions in that nation. On 15 March, Indian authorities denied visa to five Pakistani diplomats intended to visit Kolkata to boost morale of its cricket team.

The United States expressed disappointment over India's decision not to grant visa to members of a US religious commission which reviews violations of religious freedom around the world. State Department Spokesman John Kirby said, “We are aware that visas were not issued by the Indian embassy to members of the US Commission of International Religious Freedom commissioners (USCIRF), who were planning to travel to India on the fourth of March, and we are disappointed by this news."  Robert P. George, Chairman of USCIRF stated that “We are deeply disappointed by the Indian government’s denial, in effect, of these visas.  USCIRF has been able to travel to many countries. One would expect that the Indian government would allow for more transparency. USCIRF will continue to pursue a visit to India, given the ongoing reports from religious communities, civil society groups, and NGOs that the conditions for religious freedom in India have been deteriorating since 2014”.  

Indian authorities denied visa to five Pakistani diplomats for the World T20 encounter between India and Pakistan on March 19 citing security reasons. The external affairs ministry has denied permission to the diplomats in question for alleged links with Inter-Services Intelligence. It is unfortunate that India, despite being the host of the World Cup, is refusing to fulfill its obligations and creating hurdles. Previously, Indian authorities also placed a limit of 250 visas on Pakistani spectators for each match Pakistan team plays in the World T20 tournament. Earlier, Indian authorities in Himachal Pradesh refused to ensure security of Pakistani cricket team and spectators from Pakistan. Pakistan Cricket Board officials visited India and discussed the security issue with Board of Cricket Control of India and International Cricket Council after which the match was shifted to Kolkata.

This is not the first time Pakistani citizens have been denied visa for entry into the neighbouring country. In June 2015, Pakistan's under-17 wrestling team's hopes of competing in the annual Cadet Asian Wrestling Championship were dashed after the Indian High Commission denied them visas for the event. In December 2015, the Pakistan volleyball team could not participate in the AVC Continental Cup Beach Volleyball Championship Central Zone, scheduled to be held in Kerala, India, from Dec 18 to 20, after it failed to get Indian visa. In January 2016, India rejected visa applications of at least 75 Pakistani pilgrims wanting to visit Hafiz Abdullah Shah shrine, near Agra on "procedural grounds". The decision to deny visa was inconsistent with the vision of leadership of both the countries and against the principles of Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, 1974, between the two countries.

Denial of visa to Pakistani diplomats is a clear violation of basic diplomatic norms. Similarly, refusing visa to USCIRF team to assess religious freedom conditions in India exposes the insecurities of Hindu extremist BJP led government India. The BJP policies are based on RSS ideology of Hindutva or Hindu nationalism with an idea to form Akhand Bharat, or undivided Indian state which is true representative of Hindu culture and religion. The BJP’s extremist actions and discriminatory policies can be traced back to their first tenure in government when events such as 1998 nuclear explosion, violence against Christians, Gujarat carnage and strengthening of Indo-Israel ties are worth mentioning. Now during the second term in office, the BJP government has used anti-Pakistan and anti-Muslim sentiments as a tool to gain vote bank in the election campaign.
After establishing a pro-Indian government in Sri-Lanka, India is pressuring Maldives for its larger hegemonic influence in the region. Recent economic blockade with Nepal just because Nepal declared its constitution secular against BJP demand of a Hindu constitution is a clear reflection of narrow mindedness of Indian government. At the same time, India has increased Line of Control/ Working Boundary violations along Kashmir and Pakistan-India border and now it is covertly supporting non-state actors through its Indian consulates in Afghanistan to create instability in Pakistan’s tribal areas and Balochistan.  India has shown open criticism to Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Hence, it is the dire need of the hour that international community take concrete measures to control BJP extremist actions and discriminatory policies. The UN along with other major powers such as US, Russia, Japan, China etc. should pressurize India follow basic diplomatic norms and protect rights of minorities and of Indian Muslims. The RSS and other extremist elements must be checked and controlled to reduce communal riots and human rights violations.


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