Against the backdrop of China issuing stapled visa to two archers from Arunachal Pradesh recently, government today said it has been conveyed to the neighbouring country on several occasions that there should be no discrimination against visa applicants on grounds of domicile and ethnicity.
Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur said the issuance of visas by India and China is guided by the provisions of an MoU on simplifying visa procedures signed by the two governments in June.
"Government's position that there should be no discrimination against visa applicants of Indian nationals on grounds of domicile and ethnicity has been clearly conveyed to the Chinese government on several occasions and at the highest level," she said.
Two young women archers from Arunachal were prevented from boarding a China Southern Airlines flight at Gandhi International Airport here two months back due to stapled Chinese visas.
