The Centre has come down heavily on Bangladeshi actor Ferdous Ahmed. His business visa was cancelled and he has been issued a notice to leave India. He has also been put on blacklist after he was seen campaigning and taking part in roadshows for the TMC in some districts like North Dinajpur in West Bengal.
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The BJP saw red over Ahmed’s participation in the Lok Sabha election campaign. The TMC was using a “foreign national” for campaigning in the “domestic” election process, the party claimed.
The BJP versus TMC fight landed at the doorstep of the home ministry, which sought a report from the bureau of immigration regarding any visa violations committed by Ahmed.
After receiving a report from the bureau of immigration on the visa violations, the MHA has cancelled his business visa and issued him notice to leave India. He has also been blacklisted. The Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Kolkata has been directed to ensure compliance of these orders.
It is learnt that Ferdous had taken part in a roadshow along with other Bengali actors at Raiganj, Hemtabad, Karandighi and Islampur. The BJP also termed it a move to woo minorities, and submitted a complaint to the Election Commission. Sources in the government explained that the superintendent of police of the concerned districts is duty bound to send a report to the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Officer) in such matters, which did not happen in this case.
Sources said the individual in this case was a foreign national who was on a business visa which does not allow such activities. It is a clear violation of the visa norms, said the official. The MHA also asked for a field report as rules lay down strict measures for such violations of visa norms. It includes blacklisting the individual as well as the sponsors who have violated the norms. Officials said campaigning in domestic politics is clearly a sovereign activity which no other individual or nation can meddle in.
Speaking to THE WEEK, Dilip Ghosh, state BJP president, said, "Earlier they used to bring voters from Bangladesh and now artists to campaign for them." Ghosh was obliquely referring to the illegal migration from Bangladesh into West Bengal. Meanwhile, sources said there were more artists or singers from Bangladesh—around 50 of them—who have allegedly participated in the TMC‘s election campaign.
-Inputs from Rabi Banerjee