India denies visa to Dr Ellyn Shander, US rights activist

The Indian mission in New York cancelled the visa of Dr Ellyn Sue Shander, a US-based humanitarian worker and a strong critic of Sri Lankan government to travel to India.

The American woman activist was scheduled to tour India from September 13 and deliver talks on alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka. Her Indian host Mr M.Natarajan has organised a series of meetings in Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai and Delhi till Sept. 20 with Ms Shander as the main speaker.
Ms Shander has vowed to protest against the visa cancellation.
Mr M.Natarajan, Chennai-based political activist and husband of Ms Sasikala, close friend of AIADMK leader Ms Jayalalithaa, has accused both the Central and state governments of curbing free speech in the country.
Mr Natarajan said that the Chennai police had denied permission to conduct an indoor meeting with Ms Shander as the guest on September 16. “We have moved the Madras high court against denial of permission to conduct indoor meetings on the human rights violations in Sri Lanka. The writ petition would be heard on Monday,” he said.