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India counters UK Home Secretary’s claim on visa overstayers

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Braverman earlier said that she had visa-related “reservations” over the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) being negotiated with India….reports Asian Lite News

The High Commission of India has countered British Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s claim that the Migration and Mobility Partnership (MMP) had not “worked very well” saying that India had initiated action on all cases raised with it under the agreement.

“As part of our wider discussions under Migration and Mobility, the government of India is committed to working with the government of the UK to facilitate the return of Indian citizens who have overstayed their visa period here in the UK. As per the data shared with the Home Office, as of date, action has been initiated on all of the cases referred to the High Commission. Further, the UK has also undertaken to fulfil certain commitments as part of the Migration and Mobility Protocol, on which we await demonstrable progress,” the High Commission of India said in a statement.

Braverman in an interview with ‘The Spectator’ had said that she had visa-related “reservations” over the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) being negotiated with India.

Replying to the comments, the Indian High Commission said, “While certain issues pertaining to Mobility and Migration are currently under discussion as part of these negotiations, any comment on these matters may not be appropriate given that the negotiations are underway, and that any arrangement will include issues of interest to both sides.”

“I have concerns about having an open borders migration policy with India because I don’t think that’s what people voted for with Brexit. But I do have some reservations. Look at migration in this country – the largest group of people who overstay are Indian migrants. We even reached an agreement with the Indian government last year to encourage and facilitate better cooperation in this regard. It has not necessarily worked very well,” she said in the interview.

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