- Tharoor says 115 of 315 cleared speakers were blocked from the summit
- Norwegian journalist who questioned Modi among those denied visas
- Government calls visa matters a “sovereign” function but gives no reason
- Editors Guild of India calls the move “bureaucratic overreach”
INDIA blocked more than 100 international speakers from attending a democracy summit organized by the opposition Congress party, according to senior Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor. The government has not given a reason.
What happened?
Tharoor, a former senior United Nations official, said 115 of the 315 speakers cleared by India’s foreign ministry were later refused entry or had their visas canceled, “apparently on the instructions” of the home ministry.
The two-day summit, which opened Friday in Hyderabad, has brought together around 1,000 delegates from more than 70 countries to discuss democracy, climate change, artificial intelligence and global cooperation.
Who was blocked?
The best-known case is Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng, who said her visa was canceled shortly before she was due to travel to India to speak on media and press freedom.
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Lyng had questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a press briefing during his visit to Oslo in May.
The full list of those denied entry has not been made public.
What does the government say?
Not much. Asked about the denials, a foreign ministry spokesperson said only that “visa matters are sovereign functions of any country or any government.”
The government has not confirmed Tharoor’s figures or explained why the visas were refused or canceled.
What are critics saying?
Tharoor said the legal basis for the decision was unclear.
“It is completely unclear under what provision of law the government has taken such a drastic step,” he wrote on X. “What a shame that a proud democracy has become so insecure that it must stifle any voices it fears will be critical!”
The Editors Guild of India condemned the cancellation of Lyng’s visa as “bureaucratic overreach” and called on the government to disclose its reasons and reverse the decision.
What we don’t know
It remains unclear which law or rule the government relied on, whether the speakers were blocked individually or as a group, and whether any of the decisions will be reversed.
(With inputs from agencies)
