India too should give stapled visas to Chinese delegates coming to India: Arunachal MP Tapir Gao

Miffed over Chinese authorities issuing stapled visas to players from Arunachal Pradesh, Tapir Gao, Lok Sabha MP from the state, today said that India too should do a tit for tat and issue stapled visas to Chinese delegates coming to India to participate in sporting events or for business purposes.

“Government of India has taken the right decision and in future Government of India should also give stapled visas to Chinese delegates, whosoever comes to India to play games or for business purpose also,” MP Gao said.

“This is not the first incident. China is always giving stapled visas to Arunachalee athletes, which the Government of India has not allowed. This time the Government of India has taken the decision and withdrawn the entire team from going to China,” MP Tapir Gao who is also Arunachal Pradesh BJP president, said.

Three wushu players from Arunachal, Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega, and Mepung Lamgu, who were supposed to participate in the World University Games scheduled to be held from July 28–August 8 at Chengdu in China, were issued stapled visas by the Chinese authorities.

Outraged by the Chinese government’s gesture, Indian government decided to pull out its team of Wushu players from the Games.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “It has come to our attention that Stapled visas were issued to some of our citizens representing the country in an international sporting event in China. This is unacceptable. And we have lodged our strong protest with the Chinese side, reiterating our consistent position on the matter, and India deserves the right to suitably respond to such actions.”

China issuing stapled visas to Arunachalees have been a source of friction between India and China for quite some time now.

Also Read: Unfortunate: Arunachal wushu players miss global event over stapled visas from China