At Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, the scenario involving Nepali citizen Shambhavi Adhikari being barred from traveling to Berlin made headlines. Some local media initially construed this as discrimination against Nepali nationals by Indian immigration officials. However, on Friday, the Ministry of Home Affairs clarified that the Indian immigration department had no role in this matter.
The ministry's statement explained that the decision to halt Shambhavi Adhikari's onward journey was made by the respective airline company based on visa validity and the rules of the destination country. A spokesperson from the Ministry of Home Affairs remarked, 'This issue is unrelated to immigration or discrimination. Nepal is our closest neighbor. Millions of Nepali citizens enter and exit India without a visa. Our open borders and friendship treaty are testaments to this.'
'India and Nepal: A Bond That Remains Strong'
The ministry spokesperson further relayed, 'We appeal to the media to thoroughly verify facts before publishing reports to prevent misunderstandings between the two nations. This was entirely an airline decision. Transit passengers require no immigration clearance from India. There is no discrimination against Nepali citizens in India. The India-Nepal relationship remains robust and amicable.'
What was the Incident About?
Shambhavi Adhikari had traveled from Kathmandu to Delhi on an Air India flight and was to board a Qatar Airways flight to Berlin. However, Qatar Airways cited her visa's validity and German entry regulations in denying onward travel. The airline stressed that boarding cannot be granted without a guarantee of entry into the destination country.
Rules for Transit Passengers
Transit passengers refer to individuals who pass through a location en route to their destination, pausing temporarily during their journey. Such passengers do not leave the airport premises. In international flights, transit passengers do not enter Indian territory and remain within the airport area, thus bypassing Indian immigration. The entire process depends on airline and destination country regulations. In this instance, Shambhavi Adhikari did not enter Indian territory and was sent back by Qatar Airways.
