'Was Doing Business On Tourist Visa', MHA Blacklists New Zealand Youtuber Karl Rock For 1 Yr
The government of India has banned Youtuber Karl Rock from traveling to India for a year after he was found violating visa norms.
New Delhi: After New Zealand origin vlogger Karl Rock alleged that his Indian visa was cancelled and he has been blacklisted by the Indian government, the Home Ministry has confirmed the move.
In his 9-minute long monologue, the Youtuber said that he has been separated from his family in India. Karl Rock is married to an Indian woman named Manisha. “I left India in October 2020 to live in Dubai and in Pakistan. When I went to the New Delhi International Airport, they cancelled my visa. They did not tell me why they were cancelling my visa. So, when I went to Dubai to re-issue my visa to go back home, I was called in the Indian High Commission and told in person that I have been blacklisted.”
In his video titled "Why Haven't I Seen My Wife In 269 Days", the vlogger said that the government’s decision to blacklist him coincided with his wife contracting the deadly Coronavirus during the 2nd wave. He said that he was caught in a helpless state, with no option to return back to India. He also claimed that he could stay anywhere in the world but had voluntarily chosen to stay in India.
His wife, an Indian national who lives in the capital, has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court challenging the move.
Originally from New Zealand, Karl is a YouTuber who shares tips for foreigners travelling in India.
Union Home Ministry officials said the New Zealand national has been restricted from entering India till next year for violating the terms and conditions of his visa.
"New Zealand origin vlogger Karl Rock has been blacklisted by the Government of India for violating multiple visa norms, he was found doing business on a tourist visa, he is barred for one year, his visa is cancelled", MHA official told ANI.
The petition filed in court states that Karl had strictly been abiding by the laws of the country and conditions of the visa and that there has not been a single complaint against him. After he got married, he was issued an X-2 visa, meant for spouses and children of Indian nationals, which was valid till 2024. One of the conditions of the visa was that he had to exit India every 180 days or intimate the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) concerned.
While many on social media speculated that the reason for the blacklisting was because he had visited an anti-CAA protest site and documented it. This video was later deleted, MHA has now issued a clarification.
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