India visa for Chinese dissident

Even ‘soft power’ India can lose its patience. Miffed with the Chinese for using its veto power to block New Delhi's move in the UN to designate Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar a terrorist, India has hit back. It has granted visa to a prominent Chinese dissident leader whom China accuses of being a terrorist.

Dolkun Isa is a Germany-based Uyghur activist accused by Beijing of unleashing terror in the remote Xinjiang region which is densely packed with Muslims.

Speaking exclusively to NDTV on the phone from Germany, Isa said he had an electronic visa to come to India next week for a World Uyghur Congress conference to be held in Dharamsala, which the Dalai Lama is also expected to attend.

"I haven't decided yet on whether to come to India... I have got an electronic visa. The Chinese government is not happy, India should guarantee my security and free movement", he told the channel. The Chinese Foreign Ministry, in a statement to Press Trust of India, has referred to an Interpol red corner notice against Isa and said: "Bringing him to justice is a due obligation of relevant countries." Isa was reported as saying by the TV channel: "China has put me on Interpol list since 1997. Most countries have just ignored it. India is a democracy. I don't think I'll be arrested but I don't want any difficulties either." Isa was given asylum in Germany in the 1990s. Asked about Isa's visa, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swaroop said: "We have seen media reports on his visit; at this moment we are trying to ascertain the facts." In the last few days, both Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar took up the Masood Azhar issue with the Chinese leadership but the response was less than lukewarm. Input and quotes from NDTV.