Omar Abdullah hits out at government for cancelling visa to Chinese dissident

SRINAGAR: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today hit out at the Centre for cancelling the visa given to a Chinese dissident.

"What was all that chest thumping earlier?" Omar asked on Twitter after India decided to withdraw the visa to Chinese dissident Dolkun Isa apparently after protests by China over the issue.

"For the last few days we were treated to lots of self-congratulatory chest thumping about how this Govt is the 1st (first) to stand up to China," the National Conference leader said.

Isa, a leader of World Uyghur Congress (WUC), who lives in Germany, had been invited for the conference being organised by US-based 'Initiatives for China'.

Isa was granted a tourist visa to travel to India this week for the conference in Dharamsala, which Tibetan leader-in-exile the Dalai Lama is also expected to attend.

China's unhappiness about reports that Isa has been given the visa was reflected in Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying saying, "What I want to point out is that Dolkun is a terrorist in red notice of the Interpol and Chinese police. Bringing him to justice is due obligation of relevant countries."