Bangladeshi student asked to leave India for 'anti-govt' activities
Kolkata: A Bangladeshi student of Visva Bharati University has been asked by the home ministry to leave the country for reportedly engaging in "anti-government activities".
Afsara Anika Meem, an undergraduate student at the central university, has been served a 'Leave India Notice' by the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office, Kolkata -- under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The notice -- which has asked Meem to leave India within 15 days from the date of its receipt -- did not specify the nature of the "anti-India activities".
The woman, who hails from Kustia district of Bangladesh, got enrolled in the Bachelor of Design course at the varsity in 2018. She received the notice dated February 14 on Wednesday, one of her friends said.
Meem had allegedly shared some posts on Facebook related to anti-CAA protests inside the campus in December, and has been trolled on social media since then, a member of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) told PTI.
The Bangladeshi student, who did not receive calls, told PTI in a WhatsApp message that "I am not in a state to talk about this now".
A Bangladesh Deputy High Commission source in Kolkata said it is yet to receive any official intimation in this regard. Visva Bharati University authorities, too, could not be contacted for comments.
The notice said Meem also committed visa violation.
"... She is found to have engaged in anti-government activities. And such activity being a breach of her visa, has thus, committed visa violation.
"... The foreigner shall not remain in India, shall depart from India within 15 days of receipt of this order," it said. A teacher at the varsity termed the move "draconian" and said it is an attempt to gag "any dissenting voice".
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Ban on MDH, Everest masala: India seeks details from food regulators of Singapore, Hong Kong
New Delhi (PTI): India, the world's largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices, has sought details from food safety regulators of Singapore and Hong Kong, which has banned certain spices of Indian brands MDH and Everest due to quality concerns.
The commerce ministry has also directed Indian embassies in both Singapore and Hong Kong to send a detailed report on the matter.
The ministry has also sought details from the Indian firms -- MDH and Everest, whose products have been banned for allegedly containing pesticide 'ethylene oxide' beyond permissible limits.
"Details have been sought from the companies. Root cause of the rejection and corrective actions will be determined along with the exporters concerned," a commerce ministry official said.
Technical details, analytical reports and the details of the exporters whose consignments have been rejected have been sought from Embassies at Singapore and Hong Kong, the official said.
Details have also been sought from Singapore Food Agency and Centre for Food Safety, and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Hong Kong, the official added.
The ministry official mentioned that an industry consultation is also scheduled to discuss the issue of mandatory testing of ethylene oxide in spice shipments to Singapore and Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, the Spices Board of India is looking into the ban imposed by Hong Kong and Singapore on the sale of four spice-mix products of Indian brands MDH and Everest.
The Food safety regulator of Hong Kong has asked consumers not to buy these products and traders not to sell, the Singapore Food Agency has directed a recall of the products.
In 2022-23 fiscal, the country exported spices worth nearly Rs 32,000 crore. Chilli, cumin, spice oil and oleoresins, turmeric, curry powder and cardamom are major spices exported.
