Despite ‘humiliation’,accept stapled Chinese visas,AP sports body to Centre

“The incident is no less than a humiliation. People of this remote northeastern state have been repeatedly denied normal visas as if they were not Indian citizens,” Doke said.

Doke’s statement came a day after chief minister Jarbom Gamlin criticised China for issuing stapled visa to a team karatekas from the state,thus preventing them from

taking a flight from New Delhi to Beijing on Wednesday night.

The five-member team,including officials,was on its way to Quanghou City in Fujjian province of China to represent India at the Asian Karate-do Championship from July 20 to 25.

Stapled visas were issued to them though,after a prolonged discussion with Indian authorities,the New Delhi embassy of China had agreed to issue regular visas to the Arunachalee karatekas.

He urged all the three MPs of Arunachal to raise the issue in both houses of Parliament.

Doke asked the Centre to resolve the visa problem with China without delay so that people of this state did not face the same problem in future.

Meanwhile,Indian Weightlifting Federation Joint Secretary Abraham K Techi said the Indian authorities should have prevented the rest of the China bound team from taking part in the championship as a token of protest.

In January,China had issued stapled visas to Abraham and weightlifter Yukar Sibi.

“The incident has definitely brought down the morale of upcoming players,who could not participate in the championship for no fault of theirs,” he said.