NEW DELHI: The Centre has informed two Meghalaya MPs that there is “no basic change in the visa policy” from what it was during the Congress-ruled UPA regime.
The assurance from government comes after the two lawmakers, Vincent H. Pala and Conrad K. Sangma, had alleged that three foreign Christian missionaries were not being given visas.
The Shillong MP wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently and urged him to allow stay of the Christian missionaries to continue their social work. For his part, the Tura MP wrote to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and sought his intervention.
Sangma had said “never in the past” Christian missionaries faced any problem in getting their visa extended. “This has led to a lot of confusion and difficulties for these missionaries who have been working tirelessly for the poor and needy of our country,” Sangma said.
Three Christian missionaries referred to are Fr Ignacio Zuazua from Spain, associated with Gujarat-based Jivan Jyoti Society since 1951, Sr Laurel Judith Seaton from Australia, who served at Missionaries of Charity in Bihar and Belgian Aurele Brys associated with Jharkhand-based Ranchi Jesuit Society for 51 years, sources said.
In 2012, government sources said there were some relaxations for Christian missionaries. But these visa papers are always cleared on merits and provisions the mandatory criteria are fulfilled.
Official sources said there is requirement of documents like the proof of registration of missionary in India to “substantiate that a foreigner has come for missionary work”.
Moreover, the law makes it clear if they are coming to work at a new missionary centre – there has to be specific approval from the Centre, which is a kind of No Objection Clearance. There has to be an undertaking by the missionary where he or she will work to ensure quick “repatriation” in case of an adverse situation. In addition, since 2016, the Modi government has strictly enforced the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) norms and ordered cancellation of licenses of about 20,000 NGOs.
A number of NGOs were put under ‘observation and prior permission’ list by a Home Ministry order last year. “So visa papers for missionaries or even other foreigners, including tourists and students, are decided strictly on merits,” an official source said. (UNI)
