India revokes UK Labour MP visa because of her Kashmir stance

Debbie Abrahams, a British Labour Party politician and the Member of British Parliament, was denied entry into India due to her criticism on Indian government’s controversial decision to revoke Kashmir’s special status last year.

Debbie Abrahams said she was denied a standard e-visa at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi airport.

Immigration officials did not explain the reason for their decision.

She posted a photo of her visa on her Twitter handle and said ” This is the e-visa I was issued with by the Indian authorities.”

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This is the e-visa I was issued with by the Indian authorities. pic.twitter.com/QLwJhwFz3d

— Debbie Abrahams MP (@Debbie_abrahams) February 18, 2020

Although the move to strip the state of its semi-autonomous powers was widely welcomed in India, Kashmiris have criticised it, and there has been some international opposition, particularly from liberal lawmakers.

Debbie Abrahams was travelling to India on a personal visit.

She was told by the authorities that her visa had been rejected after she landed in Delhi on Monday on an Emirates flight.

The MP said in a statement “I’m prepared to let the fact that I’ve been treated like a criminal go, and I hope they will let me visit my family and friends.”