INDIAN HIGH COMMISSION TO NEW ZEALAND STOOPING LOW!

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Home > News > Report

Indian envoy to NZ in trouble

April 13, 2006 13:32 IST

India's High Commissioner to New Zealand Harish Kumar Dogra, who allegedly refused visas to India for some people of New Zealand's Indian community, has defied an order for his recall and accused the external affairs secretary of bringing shame on the country.

In March, Dogra was given two weeks to return.

The Dominion Post and Indian Newslink newspapers said they had received a copy of a letter from Dogra to External Affairs Secretary Shyam Saran.

In the letter, Dogra described the recall as illegal and demanded Saran's resignation.

'What have I been charged with, why am I being hanged without even being given an opportunity to be heard?' said Dogra's letter, dated April 10.

Dogra defended his decision to refuse some visas as well as his handling of the high commission's finances. He also accused the Indian government of releasing slanderous accusations against him to the Indian media.

'You have made India a laughing stock in this part of the world. You have not only humiliated me but brought shame on the country,' he wrote.

The Dominion Post said an Indian foreign ministry spokesman in New Delhi refused to comment on the recall because it was an administrative decision.

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