Bharat Summit visa row: Congress says 115 foreign speakers blocked; MEA calls visas a 'sovereign' matter

A political dispute over visas overshadowed the opening of the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad on Friday. Congress leaders alleged that the central government had stopped a large number of foreign speakers from attending, while the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said only that visa decisions are a sovereign matter.

The two-day conclave, held on November 13 and 14, has been organised by the Congress together with the Telangana government. Organisers say it has drawn about 1,000 delegates from around 70 countries for discussions on geopolitics, democracy, climate change, artificial intelligence and federalism. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy are among the listed participants.

What the Congress alleges

Shashi Tharoor and other Congress MPs said that roughly 115 of the 315 foreign speakers invited were either refused entry or had their visas withdrawn shortly before travel, despite having received political clearance from the MEA. They alleged the decisions came on instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs. These figures come from the party and have not been confirmed by the government.

Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng, who said she had been invited to a panel on media and press freedom, wrote on X that her visa was cancelled minutes before she was to leave for the airport, and asked Home Minister Amit Shah for an explanation. The Congress linked the cancellation to a question she had tried to put to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Oslo in May.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi accused the government of trying to sabotage the event, while MP Deepender Singh Hooda said a session he moderated was held up while a British participant's visa was checked. Revanth Reddy also alleged that delegates had been turned back at the last minute.

Government and BJP response

Asked about the reports at his regular briefing on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said visa matters are "sovereign functions of any country or any government" and did not comment further. The Home Ministry had not publicly responded to the specific allegations at the time of writing.

The BJP has been sharply critical of the conclave. Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao earlier this week called it an "Anti-Bharat Summit" and alleged that it would host foreign groups hostile to India's interests, claims the Congress rejects. Revanth Reddy defended Rahul Gandhi's participation, saying leaders across governments have long engaged with international forums.

Why it matters

The row adds to an already tense relationship between the government and the Opposition ahead of Parliament's Winter Session. It also raises questions, being debated by both sides, about how visa powers are used for politically organised international events held in India.