CII expresses disappointment over UK's new visa pilot scheme

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has expressed its disappointment over the decision of the UK Govt to go ahead with its pilot 3000 pound bond scheme for tourists from six countries, including India.

In a statement issued here, the CII said the scheme is not in accordance with the spirit of special relationship that India shares with the UK.

It furtrher said the new scheme would create reservations in the minds of Indian tourists about visiting the UK, and could also divert many others to more tourism-friendly European countries.

It strongly urged London to take a relook and consider removing India from this pilot scheme.

According to media reports, the UK Government has labelled India as one of the high risk countries, and has proposed to introduce the controversial 3,000 pound visa bond scheme to tackle visa dodgers.

The plan involves issuing hefty refundable financial bonds to "tightly targeted" tourists.

The six countries initially shortlisted for the pilot included India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Ghana.

The British High Commission in New Delhi has said that the details of this scheme are still being worked out and the list of countries has not been finalised yet.

The scheme is due to begin with tourist visas this November and is expected to run for a year before being extended to other visa types.

The scheme is part of a series of measures being used by the Conservative-led British government to cut illegal immigration into the country.

India's Commerce and Industry MInister Anand Sharma is on record as saying that New Delhi is seriously concerned over the issue.

"How can a country that is a strategic partner be categorised as a high-risk country, in the bracket with some of the others. If that were to be true, that would be taken as an affront...," Sharma was quoted by media, as saying some time ago.