Complaints of misuse of German visa by Indians

Hannover, Apr 24 : German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed her reluctance to relax the visa regime for Indian businessmen and professionals, saying there have been complaints of its misuse.

''There have been complaints of the misuse of the German visa,'''she said at a press interaction with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last evening after talks between the two leaders.

She was asked if Germany could introduce a liberalised visa regime for Indian businessmen and professionals, especially in the IT sector.

Her comments assume significance against the backdrop of the recent controversy involving a senior IFS official, Mr Rakesh Kumar, who has been charged with facilitating the flight of a dance troupe to Germany with fake docments.

Both the Prime Minister and Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal took up the issue of a liberalised visa regime for Indians during the meeting with the German Chancellor.

They were of the view that a rigid visa regime was coming in the way of enhanced trade and economic ties between the two countries as well as in the migration of Indian professionals to Germany.

UNI

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