India pulls out of World University Games after China issues stapled visas for three Arunachal athletes

India has decided to pull out of the World University Games that are set to begin in Chengdu on Friday. India took the decision as a mark of protest against China’s decision to issue stapled visas and not stampled ones to athletes from Arunachal Pradesh. The decision was made by the Indian team hours after the eight-member contingent – comprising of five athletes and three support staff members were stopped by the airport authorities in New Delhi on Thursday midnight.

The coach of the team Raghvendra Singh confirmed the development stating that the team was stopped at the boarding gate just minutes before the departure to China. “We were stopped at the gate by immigration officials and CISF personnel. They did not give any reason and claimed they were merely acting on the government’s instructions,” he said while speaking to Indian Express.

India, on Thursday, reacted to China’s move to issue stapled visas to the athletes calling the decision as ‘unacceptable’ and also stated that it reserves rights to suitably respond to such actions. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also reacted to the matter stating that India has lodged strong protest with China.

Also Read: Why is China issuing stapled visas to Indians from Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir?

“Our long-standing and consistent position is that there should be no discrimination or differential treatment based on domicile or ethnicity in the visa regime for Indian citizens holding valid India passports. “It has come to our notice that stapled visas were issued to some of our citizens representing the country in an international sporting event in China. This is unacceptable and we have lodged our strong protest with the Chinese side, reiterating our consistent position on the matter,” Bagchi said.

China has refused to issue stamped visas to the athletes of Arunachal Pradesh in the past too. In 2011, five karatekas from Arunachal were given stapled visas to participate in a competition in Quanzhou.

Also Read: India’s staunch reply to China for issuing stapled visas to Arunachal players: ‘Unacceptable and will respond’

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