India should take up visa issue with China: BJP

Amid reports that the Chinese embassy is issuing stamped visas to some Kashmiris on a separate sheet of paper and not on their passports, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday questioned the government's silence on the issue and demanded that it should be taken up with the neighbouring country.

"We condemn outright the move of the Chinese embassy to segregate the people of Jammu and Kashmir while giving visas. Why is this being done," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

He said this was a serious matter and wondered why the Indian government was not pursuing it with China.

"We are also in favour of good relations with China, but not at the cost of our security," Prasad said.

The BJP claimed that it had raised its concern over the activities of China earlier as well but the Congress government did not show much enthusiasm. The opposition alleged that the government was "underplaying" the objectionable activities of the neighbouring country.

There were reports that instead of issuing visa on the Indian passport as per the rules, the Chinese embassy was issuing it on a plain paper to the people of Kashmir.

With PTI inputs