India in no mood to change new tourist visa rules

New Delhi, Dec 28 (PTI) Unfazed by reservations from
nations like the US and UK, India appears to be in no mood to
relent on the new visa rules for tourists, saying it would not
like to compromise with the country's security interests.

Citing the changes made by several countries like America
and Britain after terror strikes, senior officials argue that
it should be left to the Home Ministry to chalk out the plans
for securing the nation.
They maintained that the government has not received any
complaint from any country, including the US or the UK, after
the new visa rules were implemented, but clarifications have
been sought by Washington and they have been addressed.
"When some foreign missions based in India sought
clarity, we told them that if someone has to worry about
tourists' arrival, it is India which has to worry and not any
other nation," they said on the condition of anonymity.
As per the new visa rules, no tourist, having a travel
document valid for 180 days, would be allowed to return to the
country before a cooling-off period of two months.
The new visa guidelines have been formulated after
considering all relevant aspects and giving the security of
the nation the top most priority, the officials said.
The comments also come a day after Minister of State for
External Affairs Shashi Tharoor questioned the tightening of
visa rules against the backdrop of the David Headley case and
wryly said "26/11 killers had no visas."

The Home Ministry of India also cited an example where
the girl friend of American terror suspect David Headley
be-friended a US couple in Manali.
During the probe conducted by the National Investigation
Agency, the American couple was spotted in Goa and it was
found that they were living in India on a tourist visa for
last nine years.
"The man has been doing everything -- setting up
business, running a massage parlour, tourist centre etc. We
don't want that kind of a tourist," the officials said and
questioned why there was no murmur after the US tightened its
visa rules after the September 2001 terror attack.
"We have every right to protect our own interests," they
said.
Pointing out that the new rules would not affect any
other category except the tourist visa, the government argues
that no genuine tourist would like to come to India within two
months after staying for 180 days. PTI ACB
DDC