Dolkun Isa suppressed facts while obtaining visa: MEA

India on Thursday defended its decision to revoke visa of Dolkun Isa, head of the 'World Uyghur Congress', saying he had suppressed facts while obtaining it.

Briefing media in the national capital, External Affairs Ministry official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said Isa applied for a tourist visa under the electronic travel authorisation system.

"Isa publicly stated that he was coming to attend a conference in India after obtaining the visa," Swarup said.

Swarup said a tourist visa does not permit attending conferences and furthermore, it came to the notice of authorities that Isa was subject of an Interpol Red Corner notice.

When asked if China had raised its objection on granting of visa to Isa by India, the MEA spokesperson said that Beijing had made it clear that Isa has an Interpol Red Corner Notice and all the member countries should honour that.

Isa's visit was being seen as a retaliatory measure taken by the Indian Government after China blocked the listing of Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Masood Azhar as an international terrorist at the United Nation.

Dolkun has been invited to a conference being organised by the US-based Initiatives for China. Uyghurs and other Chinese dissidents in exile are expected to attend and discuss democratic transformation in China.

Meanwhile, activists Ray Wong and Lu Jinghua have been denied visas.

According to sources, the two activists were denied visa as they failed to provide proper documentation.

Lu Jinghua's documents were illegible and there was inconsistency with the purpose of her visit. In case of Ray Wong, there was data inconsistency in his documents.