KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 2

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs has clarified that Indian immigration authorities had no involvement in the recent incident involving Nepali citizen Shambhavi Adhikari, who was reportedly stopped at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) while transiting to Berlin.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the ministry said the incident has been misrepresented as discrimination against a Nepali traveler. It explained that Adhikari had arrived in Delhi from Kathmandu on an Air India flight and was stopped from boarding her connecting Qatar Airways flight to Germany due to visa validity concerns.

According to the ministry, the decision was made by the airline in line with destination country regulations, and she was subsequently flown back to Kathmandu. 'It was the airlines which decided not to let her undertake her onward travel to Germany considering her visa validity and flew her back to Kathmandu. This is usually undertaken in accordance with the destination country rules / requirements,' the statement stated. The passenger later rescheduled her trip and successfully traveled to Germany via another route.

The statement emphasized that international transit passengers do not need to clear Indian immigration for onward travel, and such matters are handled solely between the passenger and the airline. 'International transit passengers are not required to approach Indian Immigration for their onward journey and this is a matter between the airlines and the passenger with absolutely no role of Indian immigration authorities.'

Reaffirming bilateral ties, the ministry added, 'India values its strong relationship with Nepal and reassures that no Indian authority has any bias or discrimination against citizens of Nepal.'