Government has relaxed the visa conditions that require a foreigner to take a two-month break before re-entering the country, Home Minister P Chidambaram said in New Delhi on Thursday .
As per the relaxation, a foreigner using India as a "hub" to go to neighbouring countries can enter India thrice during the 60-day cooling-off period.
In the wake of David Headley case, government recently made it mandatory for foreigners having long-term multi-entry tourist visa to leave the country for two months before coming in again.
"The visa rules for tourists were tightened. Hereafter, after the tourist visits India and leaves the country, there has to be a break of 60 days before he or she can apply for another tourist visa," Chidambaram said at a press conference here.
He said the "overwhelming majority" of tourists who visit India for a few weeks would face no difficulty whatsoever because of tightening of rules by India.
"There is a very small number of tourists who use India as a hub and visit neighbouring countries. In such cases, if the itinerary shows visits to India and other countries as part of the same trip, we have allowed the Visa Issuing Authorities to relax the 60-day period and permit up to three entries into India," he said.
Chidambaram insisted that there were no differences between the Home Ministry and Ministry of External Affairs on the visa issue and both were on the "same page and reading from the same song too". Chidamabaram said he had spoken to External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and "There is no confusion."
His comment assumes significance as Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor had questioned tightening of visa rules, contending that it could make India "less welcoming" destination for tourists.
Tharoor, however, has faced flak for it with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna asserting that he is the boss of the ministry and making it clear to Tharoor that he has to toe the policies decided by him.
"The broad policy parameters are dictated, decided by the Minister in-charge of External Affairs of this country and everyone will have to fall on the same page," he had said after a meeting with Tharoor. PTI
