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India has reportedly barred 115 foreign speakers from attending the Bharat Summit, an international conference organised by the opposition Congress party in Hyderabad, triggering criticism from opposition leaders and press freedom advocates.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor raised the issue on Friday, saying that 115 of the 315 international speakers cleared by India’s Ministry of External Affairs had either been denied entry into the country or had their visas cancelled, apparently following instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In a post on social media platform X, Tharoor questioned the legal basis for the decision and expressed disappointment over the restrictions.
He said it was unclear under which provision of law the government had taken such a step.
He also criticised the move, arguing that a democracy should not suppress voices that might be critical of the government.
Among those affected was Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng Svendsen, who was scheduled to speak at the summit on the future of media and press freedom.
Svendsen said her visa was cancelled shortly before her scheduled departure for India, despite having received the necessary visa and political clearance.
She was reportedly asked not to travel just 10 minutes before leaving for the airport.
The journalist had attracted attention in May when she questioned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a press briefing in Oslo, asking why he did not take questions from journalists.
The Editors Guild of India also condemned the cancellation of her visa, describing the development as an instance of alleged bureaucratic overreach.
It called on the government to explain the reasons behind the decision and reconsider the restrictions.
The Bharat Summit, being held in Hyderabad on November 13-14, has brought together around 1,000 delegates from more than 70 countries, including policymakers, political leaders and international experts.
The conference is discussing a range of issues, including democracy, climate change, artificial intelligence, gender equality, social and economic justice, foreign policy and global cooperation.
Senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge are also participating in the event.
The summit also aims to establish an international think tank, named Our World Institute, and create a platform for dialogue between countries of the Global South and Global North.
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs had not immediately responded to requests for comment on the allegations.
