Indian concern over visa problems

India has constituted a Task Force that would address the visa-related problems for minorities living in Bangladesh and Pakistan.

“A Task Force has been constituted in the Ministry of Home Affairs to handle visa and citizenship issues that would address the problems long faced by minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh,” said India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi.

This assumes significance as visa seekers especially in Bangladesh have been facing lots of problems while coming to India.

Singh said that online visa application system had been launched in 12 missions abroad during the last three months, taking the total to 152.

India’s home ministry has also started ‘Visa on Arrival’ facility at nine airports across the country, a move aimed to boost the tourism industry.

The home minister was talking to the reporters on the completion of 100 days in office.

Singh said that a Task Force has been set up to look into grievances of minorities "who left Bangladesh and Pakistan under pressure".

The task force, according to the minister, will give citizen certificate to those people who came to India.

Expressing concern over the influx problem, Singh said that his ministry wasworking on a comprehensive plan to solve it.

Different organisations of India’s north-eastern states have been raising a hue and cry over the issue of influx from neighbouring Bangladesh and Nepal.

Singh said he will personally visit the border regions of the country to take a stock of the situation.

“I will start visiting the bordering states in the next two to three months,” he said.

Referring to the al Qaeda threat, Singh said several Muslim organisations had condemned it.

“They (Muslim organisations) have said that they want development and peace in India,” Singh said.

On the internal security of the country, Singh said an Integrated Action Plan had been drawn up. “The action plan was mooted after having consultations with different stakeholders,"

Appealing the Maoists and militants to lay down arms and calling for a peaceful dialogue, Singh said the BSF and SSB will raise two battalions to rehabilitate militants who lay down arms.