Labour MP 'deported' from India after criticising government
A Labour MP has been “deported” after being refused entry to India.
Debbie Abrahams, the MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, said she was turned away by a “rude and aggressive” official at the immigration desk of Dehli Airport on Monday.
She claimed she was then “marched” onto a return flight to Dubai.
Abrahams had been planning to visit her Indian family in Dehli, accompanied by her Indian aide, and had a valid Indian visa.
In response to some of the comments I was planning to visit Indian family in Dehli accompanied by my Indian aide. I became a politician to promote social justice & human rights FOR ALL. I will continue to challenge my own Government & others while injustice & abuse is unchecked https://t.co/YvCOPDmfeB
— Debbie Abrahams (@Debbie_abrahams) February 17, 2020
She is chair of the all-party parliamentary group for Kashmir, and has previously been an outspoken critic of India over its move to change Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status last year.
Abrahams told the Daily Mirror she “wouldn’t be surprised” if the incident was linked to her role in Westminster.
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She said in a statement: “Along with everyone else, I presented myself at the immigration desk with my documents including my e-visa, had my photograph taken and then the official looked at his screen and started shaking his head.
“Then he told me my visa was rejected, took my passport and disappeared for about 10 minutes. When he came back he was very rude and aggressive, shouting at me to ‘come with me’.”
Abrahams said she was taken to a cordoned area marked “deportee cell”.
She went on: “I tried to establish why the visa had been revoked and if I could get a ‘visa on arrival’, but no one seemed to know.
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“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.”
