India Has To Behave Like A Democracy
As the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs has pointed out, the government has the sovereign right to deny entry to any foreign national. True, even a visa does not confer an unconditional right to enter a country. But the exercise of a right does not automatically make its exercise right. The distinction is particularly important when the government claims to uphold democratic…
According to the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, the Indian government retains the sovereign authority to refuse entry to any foreign individual. The assertion that a visa guarantees an unfettered right to enter a nation is not entirely accurate. However, when a government asserts its commitment to democratic values and freedom of expression, this distinction becomes particularly significant.
In November 2026, the Telangana government, in collaboration with the Indian National Congress, hosted the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad. The summit aimed to be an international forum to discuss democracy, development, and the challenges faced by democratic societies. More than 70 countries were represented, with invitations extended and visa applications approved.
It was reasonable for attendees to believe they would be welcomed in India. However, their expectations were dashed when the Union Home Ministry reportedly intervened to prevent numerous foreign delegates from attending the conference.
The most notable case involved Helle Lyng Svendsen, a young Norwegian journalist. Despite having obtained the requisite visa, she was informed that she could not travel to India. The charge against her was questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi about his reluctance to accept questions beyond those permitted during a media interaction.
Journalistic inquiry is a fundamental responsibility, not an act of hostility towards a country. The government's offense at this question reflects an intolerance that conflicts with democratic principles.
While Shashi Tharoor reported that 115 out of 315 pre-approved international speakers were barred from participating or had their visas withdrawn, Rahul Gandhi cited a figure of 150. The government and the BJP may have had reservations about certain participants' affiliations or political orientation. These concerns could have been articulated and debated openly. But denying entry to individuals who had been invited to present at a conference is not a suitable response.
India is the world's largest democracy and has ample reason to be confident in its democratic credentials. It does not need to fear criticism or protect those in power from uncomfortable questions. Additionally, the world would not have fallen apart if the invited delegates had been allowed to enter the country and participate in the conference. Differences in views or affiliations could have been addressed through open discussion rather than exclusion.
Although the government may argue that its decision was within its sovereign rights, legality and propriety are not always equivalent. By preventing invited participants from visiting India, the country missed an opportunity to demonstrate the openness it often claims.
Written by urgent.news from Free Press Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
