India denies treatment to Kenyan child, just because his mother is a Pakistani
- ‘Jaipur is no entry zone for all Pakistanis!’ the family was told before being forced to return by Indian airport officials
- ‘Never seen such hate in life before,’ the couple shares their ordeal in a heartfelt note
World
by
Web Desk | Published on March 7, 2019 (Edited March 7, 2019)
JAIPUR – After showing acts of uncalled for aggression at the international border, the Modi-led government of India has stooped so low in enmity with Pakistan that its arrogance is risking human lives even in big cities.
Today a new case of Indian hostility towards Pakistan surfaced, in which the authorities denied entry to a couple and their extremely sick child for medical treatment at a Jaipur hospital.
Labiha Jameel, a Pakistani woman, had reached Jaipur airport along with her husband of Kenyan descent for a surgery of their son at an Indian hospital.
The couple reached India to get urgent medical treatment for their child with a rare blood disorder after being invited by a German doctor. It had taken nearly a month for the child to stabilize enough for travel.
The Indian authorities, however, barred the couple and the extremely sick child to proceed further and humiliated them just because the mother was a Pakistani citizen.
Labiha’s husband said his wife was not even allowed to change the diaper of her son, who had been vomiting and bleeding all the way to the northern Indian state of Rajasthan.
“As we left Mombasa on Thursday with the hope of finally getting our son treated both my wife and I could not even sleep cause of the excitement of relieving our son of this wretched disease. During the journey our son caught a high fever and diarrhoea with constant coughing that would lead to vomiting.
“Unfortunately, my wife and I hadn’t carried any extra clothes for ourselves so we had to endure the remainder of the journey in this state still hopeful that his treatment will begin soon. The time comes when we reached Jaipur, India with smiles on our faces until our hopes were immediately crushed when we reached the immigration counter. Upon looking at us they called us on the side and asked if any one of us was Pakistani, it was at this moment I knew things were not going to be good.”
“Pakistani passport holder should get out now! There is no entry for you here!” the family was told by the Indian authorities.
“How did you even make it here! How did you get this Visa!! Take their documents and check, how did the High commission of India even grant you a Visa!” an Indian official yelled.
“Upon seeing our passports, he [the official] saw that my son and I were Kenyan and said that we could proceed but my wife had to turn back. I could not leave my wife and even our son can’t survive without for even 5 minutes. We begged them to let us through as even the hospitals ambulance had come to pick us from the airport. ‘Are you going through or should I deport you as well!” Some young immigration subordinate yelled at me’,” the father of the sick child shared their ordeal.
“Deport? I got shocked as there was no grounds for being deported here. ‘You will deport me?’ I asked him with rage and upon seeing my anger he dispersed back into the crowd. The senior officer had called the entire immigration team to fill [out] our forms to send us back on the same plane we came with. My wife in tears and pleading with these heartless beings that call themselves humans as at this point, she just wanted to change our sons pamper and change his clothes but they would have none of it “Why are they still here! Get them out of here now, fill the forms quickly and send them back!”
“Jaipur is no entry zone for all Pakistanis!” the official said angrily.
Despite the fact that the family had a medical visa, they were ill-treated at the immigration counter and then forced to return on an airplane.
The family says they have “never seen such hate in life before”.
“Alas our forms were filled and passports were stamped and we were escorted back to the airplane by military as if we’d try to sneak our way in or something. Never in my life had I been humiliated in such a manner but what was more painful is that my son was not going to get the treatment he deserved and how everyone back home had struggled so hard to help us get here by way of contributions and prayers. This was a very sad moment.”
According to a
family friend, the child is now awaiting blood transfusion at a Muscat hospital.
As the elections are nearing in India, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is ratcheting up the anti-Pakistan rhetoric to justify refusing visas to Pakistani or even half-Pakistani citizens.
Last month, India had barred Pakistani shooters to take part in the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) World Cup in New Delhi.
Two Pakistani shooters, G.M. Bashir and Khalil Ahmed along with their manager, were scheduled to take part in the event but couldn’t reach the Indian capital city for the eve-of-contest formalities.
Following the Indian denial of visa to Pakistani athletes, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended all discussions with India regarding the hosting of global sporting events in the future, also deciding to withdraw the Olympic qualification status for the men’s 25m rapid fire event from the ISSF World Cup.
Also, earlier this week, India faced another blow after the United World Wrestling (UWW) suspended its membership and asked all national federations under it to stop communication with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
In a letter to all national federations, the UWW highlighted India’s response was against the central Olympic principle of non-discrimination against any athlete, which was akin to the statement released by the IOC.
“UWW recommends to all the affiliated and associated national wrestling federations to suspended their discussions or relations with the Indian wrestling federation,” the world body wrote in the letter.
While the UWW said that this is only till Indian government provides written guarantee as per IOC’s ultimatum, this decision is so far the biggest casualty of the earlier IOC order.
Pak-India tensions
India and Pakistan came to the brink of war two weeks ago, following a suicide car bombing that killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary police in Indian-occupied Kashmir. India accusing Pakistan of harbouring the Jaish-e Mohammad group behind the attack, which Islamabad denied.
The two nuclear-armed countries then engaged in a rare air battle and India lost jets in it a day after carrying out an air strike on what it said was a JeM camp in Balakot area of northern Pakistan.
Indian authorities said that 12 Mirage 2000 jets carrying 1,000 kg (2,200 lbs) bombs carried out the Feb 26th attack.
Pakistan has disputed India’s account, saying the operation was a failure that saw Indian jets, under pressure from Pakistani planes, drop their bombs on a largely empty hillside.
Pakistan also captured Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman after his MiG-21 fighter jet was shot down during a dogfight near the Line of Control (LoC) on February 27. He was released by Islamabad on Friday night as a “peace gesture”.
While India has accused Pakistan of supporting the militants and having a “direct hand” in the incident, Pakistan, in turn, has rejected the allegations, accusing India of being responsible for human rights violations taking place in Kashmir.
