fraud by MPs on passports and visas

18 Feb 2010 MEA TELLS MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT MISUSE OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS NO BUSINESS ON DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS From a Delhi correspondent NEW DELHI: Members of Parliament are allegedly misusing their diplomatic passports for work and business, hence Foreign office has issued a circular.The External Affairs Ministry has sought to put an end to such malpractice. Diplomatic passports are issued to MPs going abroad on diplomatic assignment as also to their spouses accompanying them. In a letter to Parliament, the Ministry has made it clear that these can be used for personal visits as well but not conducting any business or professional work as a lawyer, doctor or a businessperson. "While diplomatic passports can be used for private visit like tourism or visiting friends and relatives, they are not meant to be used when traveling abroad for work and business," the letter said. It also makes it clear that any MP having the diplomatic passport does not get a right to visit any country, no matter even if the ministry sends a visa note for their visit. "While issuing visa notes addressed to foreign Missions, the purpose of visit is specified, viz. official or private. However, it remains the prerogative of the foreign missions to grant or decline visa to an applicant, regardless of the visa note from this Ministry," the letter added. ###