The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Unfortunate

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Wednesday, Jun 04, 2008
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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Unfortunate

It is strange that the former Pakistan Minister and human rights activist, Ansar Burney, was deported (or “denied entry” as claimed by the Union Home Ministry) by immigration authorities on his arrival in New Delhi on account of inadequate documentation.

Even granting there were some documentation inadequacies, would it not have been appropriate to refer the matter to a higher authority before taking such a drastic step?

C.P. Srinivasan,

Chennai

The treatment meted out to Mr. Burney made sad reading. It is hardly surprising that he describes the Indian government’s explanation as “half-apology.”

The least the government should do is to investigate the matter thoroughly and issue a suitable letter of apology to the good friend of India.

S.R. Kuppuswamy,

Chennai

Mr. Burney is a well known person. He visited India as recently as six weeks ago. His visit would certainly have found entry in his passport. The action of the immigration official, who went by the rule book and sent him back by the same flight for insufficient documentation, was indeed unfortunate. We are adept at goofing up and simpering later with voluminous excuses and explanations.

R. Ramachandra Rao,

Hyderabad

It is unfortunate that the man who helped an Indian prisoner get out of a Pakistani jail was deported. People like Mr. Burney are above politics. For the courage and commitment he showed in getting Kashmir Singh released, he deserves to be honoured and respected, not humiliated, in India.

Gazanfar Mirza,

Nagpur

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