Author: Express News Service
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: January 31, 2010
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Pak-team-denied-visa-for-book-fair/573579
A Pakistani team was denied permission to
participate in the Kolkata Book Fair by the Union Home Ministry. Though the
Booksellers and Publishers Guild had allotted a book stall for the team from
Pakistan after getting their confirmation, the team could not reach as their
visas were cancelled at the eleventh hour.
A team of two publishers and three authors
from Pakistan had sent in applications to the authorities of the Kolkata Book
Fair for participating in the fair. Accordingly, the book fair authorities
allotted a special pavilion for Pakistani literature.
"We received the application from a team
from Pakistan which wanted to participate in the fair. We spoke to the Union
home ministry so that they were allowed visas. Initially, there was no problem.
We got the confirmation about the participation of the Pakistani team. However,
at the last moment, their visas were cancelled," said Sibendu Bhattacharjee,
spokesperson, Kolkata Book Fair.
A senior police officer, on the condition
of anonymity, said: "As per information we have from the Union home ministry,
the visas had some problems that were detected during verification.
"After the terror alert, we received
inputs from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) saying a team of Pakistani terrorists
may infiltrate into the country in disguise and target metropolitan cities.
So, the ministry did not allow any team from Pakistan," said the official.
