Tharoor alleges 115 Bharat Summit speakers barred from India

Shashi Tharoor alleged that 115 of 315 speakers invited to the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad were denied entry to India or had their visas cancelled, apparently on instructions from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The reports do not independently confirm the figure or the ministry’s alleged role.

Tharoor, a Congress MP attending the summit, questioned the legal basis for the decisions in posts on social media. He said the speakers had been cleared by the Ministry of External Affairs and that the summit’s scheduled conclusion on November 14 would leave no time for affected participants to attend. His account does not establish whether the speakers were denied entry, had visas cancelled, or experienced both outcomes.

The two-day summit began in Hyderabad on November 13, bringing together participants from around 70 countries for discussions on global affairs, cooperation and other issues. Organisers said it was expected to draw about 1,000 delegates, including policymakers and elected representatives. The event is also intended to support the creation of a think tank called Our World Institute.

A Norwegian journalist, Helle Lyng, reportedly said the Indian Embassy advised her not...