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Wednesday, Aug 01, 2007
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Probe is still on: Downer

P. S. Suryanarayana

To decide whether or not to restore visa

Pranab: What should I protest?
We have to wait until investigation is over

MANILA: Australia on Tuesday said “investigation is still on” against the freed Indian doctor, Mohammed Haneef, to determine whether his revoked work visa could be restored or not.

This was conveyed to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee by his Australian counterpart Alexander Downer, on the sidelines of meetings organised by the Association of South East Asian Nations here.

Mr. Downer’s message coincided with Immigration Minister Kevin Andrew’s latest statement in Canberra on why Dr. Haneef’s visa was cancelled.

Mr. Mukherjee said Mr. Downer indicated that “once the investigation is over, then [Dr. Haneef’s] case, relating to visa, would be finally disposed of.

Asked whether Mr. Downer explained why the Australian authorities did what they did to Dr. Haneef, Mr. Mukherjee said: “They have their own legal system. The magistrate released [Dr. Haneef] from the charges of being involved in terrorist activities. But, as per their visa rules, it is the discretionary power of the Minister in charge [that] if they find that somebody has some association with non-desirable activities – which is called the character [test] – then, they may withhold the visa.” To a query whether he conveyed any protest against the treatment meted out to Dr. Haneef, Mr. Mukherjee, raising his voice, said: “What should I protest? We had TADA, we had preventive detention. Various countries have various laws.

“Many countries have accepted strong legislation in respect of fighting terrorism. Till 2004, India had TADA … People could be detained under preventive detention for a very long period of time … [until] being tried.

“What I enquired from him [Mr. Downer] is very simple. … It appears that he [Dr. Haneef] has been released … on the withdrawal of the main case. Then, why the visa thing came [into focus]?”

Mr. Mukherjee quoted Mr. Downer as saying that “after the [ongoing] investigation is over, a final decision in respect of visa will be taken.”

Asked whether India was satisfied with Australia’s stand, he said: “It is not a question of individual satisfaction. The question is of legal procedure. … So, we shall have to wait till the investigation is over.”

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