Singhvi backs Govt’s action, slams Debbie as ‘Pak proxy’
A day after British MP Debbie Abrahams was deported from the Indira Gandhi International Airport here, Government sources said on Tuesday her e-Business visa was revoked as she was involved in anti-India activities. They also said revoking or grant of visa is the sovereign right of a country and the cancellation of visa was conveyed to her on February 14.
Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi welcomed the step even though his party colleague Tharoor on Monday had criticised the Government on her deportation. Singhvi said the British MP was a “Pakistan proxy.”
Justifying the decision to cancel the visa and deporting the MP, sources said Abrahams was issued an e-Business visa on October 7 last year for attending business meetings. The visa was valid till October 5, 2020.
“Her e-Business visa was revoked on February 14, 2020 on account of her indulging in activities which went against India’s national interest. The rejection of the e-Business visa was intimated to her on February 14,” they said. Sources also asserted the grant, rejection or revocation of a visa or electronic travel authorisation is the sovereign right of a country.
Abrahams was not in the possession of a valid visa at the time of her arrival at the IGI Airport here on Monday and she was asked to return, the sources said.
There is no provision of “visa on arrival” for the UK nationals at the airport, sources said, dismissing Abrahams’ contention she should have been granted a “visa on arrival”.
They said as per the rules previously issued e-Business visa meant for business meetings cannot be used for visiting “family and friends”, as stated by the British MP. “This is not permitted as per the rules and a separate visa request has to be made,” a source said.
The Labour Party MP had said despite having a valid visa she was denied entry into India after she landed at the airport here about 8.50 am from Dubai. She was among a group of British MPs who issued formal letters expressing concerns over the revocation of Jammu & Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 in August last year.
“We are gravely concerned at the announcement by Indian Home Minister, Amit Shah, that Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which grants special status to Jammu & Kashmir, has been removed by Presidential Order,” the Opposition MP had noted in her letter to UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.
Abrahams reacted on Twitter, “Very disappointing that a friend can’t respectfully criticise another friend.”
Isn’t this the sign of a healthy democracy?” She also posted a shot of her visa in a bid to prove that it was valid till October.
She also said in a statement, “I presented myself at the immigration desk with my documents including my e-visa, had my photograph taken and then the official looked at his screen and started shaking his head. Then he told me my visa was rejected, took my passport and disappeared for about 10 minutes. When he came back he was very rude and aggressive, shouting at me to ‘come with me’.”
“I told him not to speak to me like that and was then taken to a cordoned off area marked as a Deportee Cell. He then ordered me to sit down and I refused. I didn’t know what they might do or where else they may take me, so I wanted people to see me.” The politician said she rang a relative she was to stay with, and he called the British High Commission.
“I’m prepared to let the fact that I’ve been treated like a criminal, and I hope they will let me visit my family and friends,” Ms Abrahams had said.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Singhvi backed the Government’s deportation of British lawmaker Debbie Abrahams, saying she is not just an MP but a “Pakistan proxy.”
