Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: After much delay, BJP MP Shahnawaz Hussain was issued a US visa on Tuesday morning to attend the UN General Assembly’s session as a part of a parliamentary delegation.
Speaking to journalists Hussain said, “I am hurt and felt insulted that it (visa) was delayed. When they (US authorities) knew that a parliamentarian has to attend UN General Assembly then there should not have been any hindrance in the issuance of visa.”
“I was going to attend the Assembly session as a principal opposition member,” he further added.
Earlier in the day, Hussain met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh over his inability to get a US visa to attend the 64th session of the UN General Assembly.
Hussain also revealed that it was Advani who spoke to the Prime Minister to look into the matter.
He further added that his documents were submitted to the embassy by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and therefore, he could not understand the reason behind denial of a visa.
On Monday, the delay in Hussain’s visa to US came into light after which the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) got in touch with the US embassy.
Besides Hussain, Girja Vyas, Sanjay Nirupam (both Congress), Ali Anwar (JD-U) and T K S Elangovan (DMK) are the other members of this "non-official" delegation of MPs going to New York.
Cases of denial or delay in US visa to some Muslims have come to light earlier also.
About two months back, filmstar Shah Rukh Khan had to face embarrassment during a visit to the US when he was detained and questioned for hours after his name `Khan` popped up in the computer of an immigration official.
His release was secured after intervention by Indian mission.
(With ANI inputs)
