Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
New Delhi
India has suspended all types of visas issued by its missions in China but has left the question of continuing with flights on the airlines.
Diplomats here clarified that the intention behind suspending all types of visas and asking all holders to apply afresh at the Indian embassy in Beijing and the consulates was not to inconvenience the Chinese.
“It is to ask if the applicant is not from the epicentre of the coronavirus. The face to face process is all in good faith to stop the spread of the disease,” said the sources.
India also said no request for evacuating Pakistani students from Wuhan has been received from Islamabad.
“But if such a situation arises and keeping in mind the resources available, we can look into it,” said Raveesh Kumar, Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.
India has already successfully carried out the evacuation of 640 Indians and seven Maldivians by two special Air India flights.
These Indians were living in Wuhan and nearby areas and did not show any symptoms of illness.
“It was a complex operation and we thank the Government of China for their support and facilitation during this exercise,” said Kumar.
India’s restrained approach has been welcomed by the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in a phone call earlier this week to his counterpart S Jaishankar.
Unlike several other countries, India has neither curbed imports from China nor asked its airlines to suspend flights though it has made it clear that passengers suspected of being affected will be quarantined after they land here. However, it did not specify the period of the quarantine.
New Delhi has issued two advisories advising Indian nationals to refrain from travelling to China.
