Hi Saurav Banerjee ji! Your case was different (ECNR issue). But not carrying a visa, how a foreigner can be allowed to enter the country. The two things are not linked. We should appreciate the right approach adopted by the immigration officials.
My parents had multipe entry US Visa. When they came in 2000, they ended up staying longer than 6 months. I wrote to Immigration to extend their stay. Formal extension was denied - but they were requested to leave US by the date they wanted to leave. Long story short, their multiple entry visa was cancelled and we did not know.
Next time they planned to come to US, they boarded the plane from India because the VISA on their passport was not cancelled. When they landed in US, they were told that you don't have VISA. My dad was asked how long he planned to stay and he said about 6 months. My parents were requested to sit on one side until the officer had time to do the necessary paper work. After half and hour, he explained my dad that VISA can be issued in the foreign countries only. Given they were already in US, officer cannot issue them a VISA. I don't remember the precise clause, but in summary, he gave them a VISA exception to say in US for 6 months. I felt great to be a US Citizen - where my parents were given full respect and support.
We need to see two sides of the story. I understand and fully sympathize with the parents and the kids. However, we should also keep in mind that India is a very soft target of terrorist attacks. I am sure that if these guys would have made a mistake anywhere else in the world (US, Australia), they wouldn't have been allowed entry. I have personally experienced a simialr thing in the US.
If the officials try to be understanding and sympathetic and if it leads to a BOMB blast, the same officials will be blamed and they can be arrested and lose a job..
The officials were just doing their job and the security of the country comes before than anyone.
regarding the kids suffereing, they suffered because of very poor planning from parents..lets not blame and curse the officials...
I have read the experience and comments of people on it. I think that the incident is unfortunate but could be an education for all:
1. First, we are all human beings and then belong to any nation. 2. Due consideration must be made for children wherever possible, they are not a part of this global divide or borders or any legal system, they are just Kids. 3. We adults must take responsibility for our actions and face the concequences of acting irresponsibly. 4. The law of the land must be held high and that includes fair practice and not discriminating againt anyone.
I hope the parents and the officials involved can both learn their lessons from this unnecessary and unfortunate incident.
Also, for our country's sake, the highest authorities must take note of this incident and make sure the Law of the Land is upheld in ALL circumstances without forgetting that we are humans after all..
I have been staying aroad for 4yrs now and since last year i have been working in bangkok in to IT...suddenly the indian government issued a rul of a co plusory ECNR stamping for travelling into Thailand ...even for a tourist visa or a work permit....i didnt know this and went back to india....i even entered mumbai ...cleared the immigration etc ...but while returning back they clered my sons passport and my hubbys too...but caught me back as i didnt have a ECNR stamp for thailand...i begged them and in the end they too me to a higher official and he asked me if i had a valid work permit and on babis of a work permit they allowed me to enter as during the time the rule was implemented i was in bangkok and wasnt aware of the ECNR rule....so it all depends on the circumstances...but i trhink not having a valid visa is a offence and u just cant blame them...but yeah the french connection to the story is diffinetly a thought to think about...thats the bad part...else i think everything was fair...yeah...what they could have mx done is waiting for a hour more , wait for the papers to come ...and after that deported the kids back....after all they were small kids and not terrorists !!!!!
RE:They are not always bad
by umesh on Dec 25, 2006 12:01 AM Permalink
Please do it. Shall we provide you the handbook with rules so that you don't repeat the mistake of overlookng the rules.
It was very shocking, sad and deplorable incident to have happned but also to read about it. It is high time that the Immigration authorities show some respect and good human relationship towards the NRI's who continue to support the country needs for prosperity and growth. If we NRI's continue to be treated with such inhuman treatment and feelings we will have to forget that we are Indians and disown our own motherland. Dominic Dsouza Colorado, USA
I think readers the point to understand here is that the Customs have Discretionary power which they should use to help visitors. They used it for Gora and Not for their own brothers. Also they could have given them some more time to get the papers.
The issue is these A..H.... cant stop terrorists on the border but they will harass genuine visitors and citizenships with their power.
Its just another shameful incident to show about the real india and till these items are not highlighted and discouraged our so called protectors will just act as they are making even Indians very ashamed to be so.
Well if we had forgotten to take along our visa or passport to the USA they would have treated us even worse. We would have been treated as terrorists most likely. Fancy travelling without carrying all the relavent documents!
can't like Indians like Narasimha Rao, Pawar etc, so put Sonia at helm Nehru liked Madam Batten, so dividing India was very easy Bollywood stars: all are white God's idols are all white even christians made jesus blue eyed and blonde:)
