Shashi Tharoor alleges 115 foreign speakers denied entry to India ahead of Bharat Summit

Hyderabad: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has criticised the Centre, alleging that 115 of the 315 international speakers cleared by the Ministry of External Affairs for the Bharat Summit were denied entry into India or had their visas cancelled. He claimed the action was taken on the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The three-day Bharat Summit began in Hyderabad on Thursday and is scheduled to conclude on Saturday. Tharoor, who is among the speakers at the event, said he learned of the alleged restrictions after reaching Hyderabad.

In a post on X, Tharoor said 115 speakers whose names had been cleared by the External Affairs Ministry were refused entry or had their visas cancelled. He questioned the legal provision under which the government had taken such a step and said it was impossible to reverse the decision because the conference was nearing its conclusion.

“What a shame that a proud democracy has become so insecure that it must stifle any voices it fears will be critical!” Tharoor wrote. He described the development as a disappointing footnote to the summit proceedings.

Tharoor said he attended and addressed the opening day of the Bharat Summit, which has brought together experts from 70 countries to discuss the emerging global order, India’s strategic response, cooperative federalism and electoral integrity.

He said he spoke at an afternoon discussion involving international think tanks and later delivered the keynote address at the opening dinner on the changing world order. The summit has drawn around 1,000 delegates, including global policymakers, progressive leaders and senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.

The event also aims to establish a think tank called “Our World Institute” and create a Global South-Global North platform. Senior policymakers and party leaders from around 70 countries are participating in the discussions.

The allegation came amid reports that around 113 of the 315 speakers cleared by the Ministry of External Affairs had been denied entry into India ahead of the summit. Some visas were reportedly revoked retrospectively.

Among those affected was Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng, who said her Indian visa was cancelled shortly before she was scheduled to travel to Hyderabad for the event.

Tharoor’s claim has put the spotlight on the Centre’s handling of visas for foreign participants at the Congress-organised summit. The Ministry of Home Affairs has not publicly responded to the allegation.

(Inputs from IANS)