Indian government ‘ascertaining details’ of MP Nihan’s visa refusal

The Indian government is reportedly investigating immigration officers refusing to grant pro-government MP Ahmed Nihan a visa to enter the country.

Indian newspaper ‘Hindustan Times’ reported that the Indian External Affairs Ministry said it was 'trying to ascertain details of the incident’.

“He was stopped at immigration when he came to Chennai, on the night of June 4. We are trying to find out how this happened. We will share information when we have it” Rajeev Kumar, the ministry’s spokesperson said.

On Thursday, Indian Ambassador Akhilesh Mishra was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he was questioned about the matter.

Nihan was told to ‘leave India on the next available flight’. The lawmaker told local journalists he had been bullied by the Indian government for his political beliefs, claiming that Indian immigration officers had even asked him which party he belonged to after he provided his credentials.

Nihan is one of the local parlaiment's staunchest supporters of the government, that has this year alone been subject to international condemnation, from the governments of several individual countries and the United Nations. In the local polticial sphere, Nihan is known for his strong rhetoric against Nasheed's party and professed 'infinite loyalty' to incumbent President Abdulla Yameen.