The new UK visa rule is insulting and yet interesting. It defines how the British still look at us. Even after history has taught otherwise...even after we educate ourselves against discrimination, there are people who still practice it.
And, its interesting because it is framed by the people in power...by people who make the difference in the world...by people who have the highest seat of learning in this planet...Cambridge and Oxford.
What I fail to understand is why the rates are different for various countries. This is surely going to affect young kids who have been studying hard towards getting an admission to UK universities. Its also going to affect small and medium business men. And also tourism. maybe that is what the UK intends. They want less of us there???
And so the new rule will underline that visitors from India, Pakistan, Nigeria and other Asian and African countries are risky fellows and they need to be charged a heavy cash bond before they can enter the U.K.
According to the news tourists aged 18 and over would be forced to pay about Rs. 2.7 lakh for a six-month visit visa, which they will forfeit if they overstay in Britain. We can understand that they may have charged this bond because of illegal immigration but I am sure there are other effective ways to stop this rather than these discriminatory methods.
A similar scheme was rejected in Canada because of strong protests and claims that it was unlawful because it discriminated against categories of immigrants.
India needs to sound their voice against this.
Maybe we should charge British tourists to India double the rates they have placed on us. Or maybe they would be amused if we charged them Rs. 3 lakh, and charged only Rs.1 lakh for US visitors and Rs.10,000 for the Chinese and the Japs. and maybe nothing from the rest of the world. Will that drive home the message???
