A British MP who headed the UK's parliamentary panel on Kashmir was allegedly denied entry to India by officials at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on Monday.
Debbie Abrahams, a Labour MP, was unable to clear customs after her “valid” Indian visa was rejected, an aide told the Associated Press. Abrahams, an MP since 2011, was on a two-day personal visit to India. Abrahams claims she was told her visa had been rejected, though it was valid till October 2020.
"I tried to establish why the visa had been revoked and if I could get a 'visa on arrival' but no one seemed to know," Abrahams said in the statement.
"Even the person who seemed to be in charge said he didn't know and was really sorry about what had happened. So now I am just waiting to be deported... unless the Indian Government has a change of heart. 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,” Abrahams said. She also alleged that an immigration official shouted at her and was aggressive.
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Interestingly, Abrahams tweeted on Monday afternoon, she would continue to work for social justice and human rights.
Abrahams has been chairperson of Britain's All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Kashmir. Abrahams had criticised the Narendra Modi government's decision to abrogate Article 370. Soon after the abrogation, Abrahams wrote to the Indian High Commissioner and demanded international observers be sent to Kashmir. She had also asked the UK government to flag human rights concerns in Kashmir and asked whether the UK will be raising the issue at the UN Security Council.