India planning visa-on-arrival facilities for China

Home Minister Rajnath Singh

The Ministry of Home Affairs is considering a proposal by the Tourism Ministry to start visa-on-arrival facility for Chinese nationals. The announcement for this new service is likely to be made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Beijing in May this year.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday held a meeting with Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma alongwith senior officials in this regard.

Soon after meeting Singh at North Block, Sharma said, “We requested the Home Minister to include five important countries like China, France, Italy, UK and Spain in the visa on arrival category. This will boost tourism and Home Minister assured us that an announcement will be made to this effect in the next two-three days.”

Intelligence Bureau (IB) has been opposing the proposal for quite some time now, but the PMO is keen on extending the facility to China, sources said.

Sources said if the PMO has decided then the concerns of intelligence agencies will be sidelined and a way out will have to be thought of. China still gives stapled visa to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh, as it claims the two states to be their territory in possession of India.

Source:: Indian Express