George, thanks a lot for helping Vijay in passing this experience to us.
For all those who feel bad and support Vijay and Vaishali:
It is shocking to know the behavior of Immigration officers towards Vijay's family.
The irony is on one side Indian nationals are abused by officials and the other side the same officials are flexible to foreign nationals.
I will try and send this information to Aajtak news at Mumbai.
Request:
I have a request for all who feel bad and support Vijay's family - It is our responsibility to join hands and fight against these spoilt bureaucrats who don't hesitate to abuse their powers.
Today it has happened to Vijay's family, tomorrow it can happen to our family.
If we get an opportunity to fight back, please don't step back.
Question:
Does anyone know of any NRI organization who can assist us? The right people will be ready to hear a complain if it comes from a group of people rather than from sigle person.
I totaly understand whay Vijay and Vaishali maight have gone thru..! In last 8 yrs, I have visited India 3 times, out of which 2 times I faced the harrasment..forget abt customs official.. it starts with the sky blue shirt guys who are supposed to be there to help us with our Bags..! Both times , as I left the immigration counter , some one started bugging me.. They start with $50 first to get the bags out , then if you ignore them , they say the officer has already noticed u and u would be in big trouble..! first time I ignored this and then was asked to go thru red channel by the officer...! the 2 hr argument ended when the cop in khaki dress got $60..! Second time I was little smart and kept talking to them and agreed immediately but their greed is so much that they started asking for $100... I was just tired,scared and helpless...! But when I came out , I took it all out..! When I started asking those guys their names, then they said dont pay any thing and just go ..meanwhile one of them took out a bundle of dollars from his pocket..I have not hold that much money in a hand any time even though I earn in doallars...! That shows how much they earn every day....!
Yeah! I know it is just so easy to blame the indian immigration.
I have 2 kids. I will never take the RISK of doing something that stupid. I know Viraj and Vishali thought - ha! what the heck lets give it a shot! If we get an entry well we saved $200 on Visa cost. Now it costed you the ticket money for 4 people. That perfectly fits the proverb - Penny wise and Pound Foolish.
You have PIO and a old Visa for your kids - give me a break man!!! It is your irresponsibility and inertness that costed your kids hassle and dont blame the indian government for that.
It is so perfect to hide behind racism while being incapable and irresponsible. Now you know what to do when you go to india next time, right?
The immigration officer who denied visas to 2 young Indians should have been born 300 years ago. He then could have refused visas to Robert Clive and East India company and India, my mahan Bharat would not have been a slave country for 300 years. That immigration officer in Mumbai should be given 7 days donkey ride and his family should be clapping for seven days.
If because of selected few peoples behaviour, you are ashamed of being an Indian, better dont step on the Indian soil. India gave you everything including birth. Any layman would have this much sense that he would travel to another country only with a visa and you are complaining that Indian officials mistreated you? Can you imagine what would have happened to an Indian if he had entered US without a valid visa? He would have been labeled a terrorist or a criminal and faced worst of the consequences. They had just deported you back, they will welcome you next time when you enter India legally
The couple should take up the matter with even higher officials in India(preferrably with the aid of a immigration lawyer) and see to it that the immigration official is named as harshly as possible in their discussions with them.
Assuming that the children had valid Visa/PIO cards, but for a simple reason that they did not have it with them in person, to be refused entry is nothing but shameful for the corrupt, lowlife excuse of a human being who calls himself an immigration officer. The person should be fired. Hopefully he/she will burn in hell also.
And for those bigots, who in their letters, are supporting these action, are so consumed with hate with persons who chose to live outside India - and for all I care are equally hearless. Just a small example, I once lost my passport and had NO documents with me while entering US, the officer here was polite, did some checking, made a few calls, and I was in with my family in less than half an hour.
Contrast this to the this hell of mumbai! Can't the scum check his computer and find out if the visa is valid or not. Shame on this scum. I am sending this story to the state department in US, and Indian Embassy, as well as to a few newspapers. Hopefully people realize what a hell hole Mumbai is. Please pass the word. My 20 year old son, who has not been to India, were planning a trip in January but that's off
I never had a bad experience wth indian immigation . Most often the stories I hear are people carrying six times the free allownccce and thinking passing through the green channel is birth right .
In light of the foregoing, I respectfully ask that Indian govenrment seriously consider amending the "transit visa" policy. At the same time I urge media to expose such officers. Only media can control such misconduct or mis behavior.
If an indian Orgin woman went to space, then we make as a big news in india and Indian newspapers put this news in FrontPage.But our country Govt official departed the indian orgin child.This happens only in india.
