India may have weakened its hand versus China by bowing to Chinese pressure on Uyghur leader Dolkun Isa and revoking his visa. But New Delhi on Thursday defended its decision to revoke his visa, saying that Isa had "suppressed" facts while obtaining it but admitted that China had made its position clear to New Delhi that it should honour the Interpol Red Corner notice against him.
"Isa applied for a tourist visa under the electronic travel authorisation system. He was accordingly granted the visa. After obtaining the visa, Isa stated publicly that he was coming to attend a conference in India - a fact which was suppressed in the visa form and something that a tourist visa does not permit.
"Furthermore it came to the notice of authorities that Isa was subject of a Interpol Red Corner notice," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
Asked if China had raised its objection on granting of visa to Isa by India, he said, "They made their position clear that Isa has a Interpol Red Corner Notice and all the countries which are member of Interpol should honour that."