By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : India has said it is studying appeals by frequent Malaysian visitors for revoking the two-month “no-entry” ruling imposed in January.
The ruling, which bars tourist visa holders from re-entering India within two months of the last visit, has drawn flak from Malaysians who have been visiting friends and relatives in India without restrictions in the past.
“It is a fact that they have expressed dismay over this restriction,” Indian High Commissioner Vijay Gokhale told The Star newspaper.
“I explained that we are implementing a policy which has been enforced globally and that we are obliged to do so here. I promised to reflect their concerns to New Delhi, which I have.”
He had met various groups of Malaysians to gather their views on the issue.
The Indian government tightened its rules on long-term tourist visas, saying that the rules were meant to prevent the misuse of such visas by terrorists.
Malaysian tourists have been enjoying six-month multiple-entry visas, with many making use of the privilege for holidays.
With the new ruling, they will only be able to visit India twice within the visa-period.
During peak periods, about 600 visa applications are received here daily. Local tour and travel agents are said to be have been hit by the new ruling, the newspaper said.
“I will continue to meet more Malaysians to gather feedback on this issue. The Indian travel agents here have been writing to us and have also asked for a meeting,” Gokhale said.
Businessman T. Indran, a frequent traveller to Chennai, urged India to review the restriction due to the large number of Malaysian Indians who visit India.
“I accompanied my wife to Chennai in February for medical treatment, and I have to apply for a fresh visa again to leave tomorrow because my last visit was within 60 days,” he said.
Grandlotus Travel Agency chairman K. Thangavelu, whose company collects visa applications from Malaysians intending to visit India, also spoke out against the restriction.
“It is certainly not good for the travel trade or people-to-people ties between India and Malaysia,” he said.