NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday defended the denial of entry to British Lord Alexander Carlile on Tuesday.
In March, Baron Carlile, a member of the House Lords, the upper house of the UK Parliament, was appointed as the legal consultant of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Khaleda Zia who is now jailed for corruption charges.
When the Sheikh Hasina led government in Bangladesh refused him entry to hold a press conference in Dhaka earlier last week, Baron Carlile decided to hold it at the Foreign Correspondents Club in New Delhi on July 13.
"Lord Alexander Carlile, a British National, arrived in New Delhi on July 11 without having obtained the appropriate India visa," the ministry of external affairs said in terse statement late Wednesday. "
His intended activity in India was incompatible with the purpose of his visit as mentioned in his visa application. It was therefore decided to deny him entry into India upon arrival."
India Bangladesh ties have been on an upswing of late, with trade and transit treaties allowing passage of goods to India's northeastern states, and Dhaka recently re-assuring New Delhi that Bangladesh would not allow any anti-Indian separatists or terrorists to operate from its soil.