The intelligence agencies have warned
the Narendra Modi government of a threat posed by rising instances of
Tablighi preachers entering India on tourist visas and starting
religious preaching. The Union home ministry has alerted all states and
UTs in an advisory that there is a major surge in individuals coming to
India with tourist visas and then preaching Tablighi doctrine.
The Tablighi Jamaat is a kind of
back-to-basis movement that aims to turn ordinary Muslims into believers
and to revive the faith. The movement has been banned in many countries
as it is seen as encouraging extremism.
The MHA letter last week says foreigners
coming from Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, UAE, Qatar, Myanmar, France and
Bangladesh, among others, were found indulging in this practice, and it
asked states to identify such persons on an urgent basis and deport them
immediately. Other countries from where such individuals have come
include Algeria, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
The home ministry has reminded the state
governments that they already have the power to deport those violating
visa conditions. In all such cases, the relevant MHA division must be
informed so that these individuals can be put on the Central
government’s blacklist for future travel.
As of now, India gives specific visas to
individuals to attend religious conferences and seminars, but
foreigners are not allowed to indulge in religious preaching.
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