New Delhi:
In spite of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's assurance that his country will take serious note of India's concerns over the issue of stapled visas, the handing over of such documents to two people from Arunachal prevented them from flying to Beijing on Wednesday.
Indian Weightlifting Federation's Joint Secretary Abraham K Techi along with a weightlifter of the state were shocked when officials at New Delhi's IGI Airport turned them away because of the stapled visas issued by the Chinese Embassy.
The Ministry of External Affairs has issued following statement in this regard:
In response to questions the Official Spokesperson said, "We have seen media reports on issuance of stapled visas, to an athlete Mr. Sibi Yukar and his coach Mr. Abraham Kaya, by the Chinese Embassy to India. Both of them, reportedly, are domiciled in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, which is an integral part of India.
We have unequivocally conveyed to the Chinese side that a uniform practice on issuance of visas to Indian nationals must be followed, regardless of the applicant's ethnicity or place of domicile. Ministry had also issued a travel advisory on 12 November 2009 cautioning Indian citizens that Chinese paper visas, stapled to the passport, were not considered valid for travel out of the country".
Indian Weightlifting Federation's Joint Secretary Abraham K Techi along with a weightlifter of the state were shocked when officials at New Delhi's IGI Airport turned them away because of the stapled visas issued by the Chinese Embassy.
The Ministry of External Affairs has issued following statement in this regard:
In response to questions the Official Spokesperson said, "We have seen media reports on issuance of stapled visas, to an athlete Mr. Sibi Yukar and his coach Mr. Abraham Kaya, by the Chinese Embassy to India. Both of them, reportedly, are domiciled in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, which is an integral part of India.
We have unequivocally conveyed to the Chinese side that a uniform practice on issuance of visas to Indian nationals must be followed, regardless of the applicant's ethnicity or place of domicile. Ministry had also issued a travel advisory on 12 November 2009 cautioning Indian citizens that Chinese paper visas, stapled to the passport, were not considered valid for travel out of the country".
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