British MP says India buckled under Bangla pressure

A member of the UK's House of Lords on Thursday accused India of buckling to pressure from Bangladesh, after he was denied entry following his arrival in New Delhi.

Lord Alexander Carlile arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi late on Wednesday. The member of the upper house of British Parliament was, however, denied entry into India, as he was planning to canvass in favour of jailed opposition leader of Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia, during his stay in New Delhi.

New Delhi barred him from entering India as he was about to hold a news conference here arguing in favour of Bangladesh National Party (BNP) chief, who was sent to jail on February 8 after a court in the neighbouring country convicted her of embezzling fund donated for an orphanage trust.

Carlile had to return to London, but he addressed media persons assembled at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in New Delhi through video link. He said that India should be “ashamed” of itself, as it denied entry to him buckling under “intolerable pressure” from Bangladesh.

New Delhi, however, officially maintained that Carlile had been denied entry as he had not obtained appropriate visa before landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here late on Wednesday.

“His (Carlile’s) intended activity in India was incompatible with the purpose of his visit as mentioned in his visa application. It was therefore decided to deny him entry into India upon arrival,” Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said.