Stapled Visa row: Arunachal Olympics Association seeks intervention of Indian Olympic Association (IOA)

At a time when the issue of China issuing stapled visas to residents of Arunachal Pradesh continues to hang in balance, the Arunachal Olympic Association (AOA) has once again raised the serious issue with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as stapled visa issue has been hampering sportspersons from the state and they should not become victims of geopolitical issues.

Seeking urgent intervention for permanently resolving the issue, the AOA has sent a representation to the IOA.

In the representation addressed to IOA President PT Usha, the AOA has requested that the matter be raised and discussed with the Asian Olympic Committee as well as the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Besides, the AOA has also urged the IOA to discuss the same with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

The AOA has appealed IOA President P. T. Usha to seriously pursue the matter with appropriate authorities so that talented and upcoming players from Arunachal Pradesh are not deprived of participating in global sports events held in China in the future.

In the representation, the AOA has also cited previous instances where delegates-diplomats and government officials including sportspersons from the frontier state being totally denied visas or either issued stapled visas.

Speaking to Northeast Live on the development, Secretary General of the Arunachal Olympic Association Bamang Tago said, “As a federal unit of the IOA, so it is in our jurisdiction only to submit our grievances to the IOA, so that the matter can be taken up with the Asian Olympic Committee (AOC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Because such deprivation to sportspersons is a complete violation of the principles of the International Olympic Charter. That is why we have requested Dr PT Usha, I was there at the IOA office in New Delhi and submitted our representation to take up this matter with the higher authorities as well as Indian government bodies like the MEA and PMO. So that is what we have submitted in the representation.”

Asked what he thinks could be a permanent solution to the issue, Tago stated, “That is the subject of the Ministry of External Affairs, I cannot comment on that as to how the issue will be resolved. This is an issue between India and China. At the best we can only submit our grievances to the IOA. After that the IOA will see whether the matter can be taken up with the Government of India and decide at what and which level it should be raised. Because it is a geopolitical issue. We want that sportspersons should not be victims of geopolitical issue.”

SEE THE FULL REPRESENTATION OF AOA TO IOA HERE:

Worth mentioning here that in 2023, the Indian Wushu contingent on July 27 was supposed to travel to China for participating in the World University Games, but was told to stay put by the government since the 3 Wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh- Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu were issued stapled visas.

The contingent had eight wushu players including the three players from Arunachal Pradesh and four team officials.

While all the other nine members of the wushu contingent got their visas on July 20, the three players from Arunachal were told on July 24 to re-apply. However, much to the surprise of all, the players from the frontier state got ‘stapled visa’ on July 26, a day ahead of their departure.

The issuance of stapled visas has been a source of friction between India and China. People of Arunachal continue to receive stapled visas rather than stamped ones from China, who has been trying to assert territorial claims over the region.

India had lodged a strong protest with China for issuing stapled visas to Indian nationals from Arunachal Pradesh and termed it “unacceptable.”

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 ‘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮’?

A ‘stapled visa’ is a visa that is attached to a separate piece of paper instead of being stamped directly in the passport. The Chinese government began issuing ‘stapled visas’ to Indian citizens from Arunachal Pradesh in 2009.

The Chinese government says that it issues ‘stapled visas’ to Indian citizens from Arunachal Pradesh because it does not recognise India’s claim over the state. The Indian government says that the ‘stapled visa’ issue is a political tool that China uses to assert its claim over Arunachal Pradesh.

Watch also: Stapled Visa row: Arunachal Olympics Association seeks intervention of Indian Olympic Association