Privileged ties cannot be pursued through ill-conceived policies that can raise hackles about racism and discrimination
The British have come up with a scheme to charge steep fees by way of a surety bond for visa seekers from India (and some other South Asian countries, besides Nigeria and Ghana, in the first instance) above the age of 18 who plan to stay in the UK for six months or longer.
This is a perfectly good idea if the purpose is to curb relations with countries of the non-white Commonwealth. But the scheme is at odds with the spirit of “multicultural Britain” on which London now prides itself.
Indians have been placed in the “high risk” category along with Pakistanis and others, meaning individuals from such countries can potentially try to melt into the local population and stay put illegally. There can be little doubt that there have been instances of Indians and others taking that route. But it is absurd to suggest, as the new move appears to, that such cases are so numerous as to call for new legislation or discriminatory administrative procedures. At least, in the case of Indians, it can be said that instances of those trying to overstay are all too few. The burden of proof lies with the British home office. It is surprising that such an extraordinary measure should be conceived without presenting the public with supporting data.
With £3,000 (approximately `2.76 lakhs) being charged as a surety bond, genuine visa-seekers hoping to be in Britain for six months or more are bound to feel the pinch and may have to rethink going to Britain. This is after all a tidy sum in the currencies of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka. Typically, those looking to go for six months or more are usually students or people looking for professional training (other than those visiting family). They will feel disadvantaged and will probably try to go someplace else.
More likely than not, this state of affairs will negatively impact people-to-people relations, besides educational and professional ties. However, irregular characters are not likely to have any great difficulty raising £3,000. The answer to all of this lies in better policing in Britain, not in having new regulations. Besides, Indian visitors to Britain are generally “straight”. As such, there is a need to make a distinction between them and some of the others, if statistical proof goes against the latter category.
The Conservative Party government in Britain professes to build a “special relationship” with India. But it doesn’t get it that privileged ties cannot be pursued through ill-conceived policies that can raise hackles about racism and discrimination. In the worst-case scenario, economic, educational and trade relations can suffer. London should know it may be a good idea to rethink the entire issue.