No unified view in govt on visa regime: Cong

“There is no unified view in the government. The disagreement between the ministries has cast a shadow on the first-ever visit of the External Affairs Minister of the new government to Bangladesh. This is a matter of concern,” Sharma said. He said it was disappointing that an attempt was being made to discourage free movement of people.

“Multiple entry visas, which are there for one year, and the proposal to expand it…to three years, we are told, has not been agreed to and has been shot down by the Home Ministry,” he said.

Sharma said the government was “mixing and confusing” the easy visas regime with the problem of illegal immigration. “I am hearing for the first time that an illegal immigrant applies for a visa,” he said.