Happy that UK addressed our concerns,says MEA

Ahead of UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s visit on November 14 this year,India’s response came after the UK officially announced its decision to scrap the controversial £3,000 visa bond scheme for some “high risk” overseas visitors to the UK including those from India which was scheduled to be implemented on a pilot scale this month.

The Ministry of External Affairs’ official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said,“Our views on the subject were conveyed to the UK government at different levels,including by Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma in his meetings in June 2013 during his visit to London.”

“These were once again discussed during the India-UK Comprehensive Dialogue on visa related issues in London in July 2013,” he said.

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“We are happy to learn that the UK Government has taken on board our concerns as well as concerns expressed by other quarters. UK and India have a strategic partnership. People-to-people contacts provide strength and durability to our long standing warm and friendly ties with the UK,” he said.

After the proposed visa bond scheme came to the government’s attention earlier this year,India has been raising the matter with the UK government.