By: Pramod Thomas
A video of an officer at the Indian consulate in New York screaming at a visa applicant has gone viral on social media prompting action from the Consul General of India, New York, media reports said.
The consulate said they have taken note of the incident and visas were issued to those applicants seen in the video.
The incident took place in the last week of November. Now, the video is being shared on social media and people are coming up with their experiences of visa troubles.
“On 24/11/2021. Indian embassy New York. Her father had died & she wanted a visa for India. This is the obnoxious behavior of an Indian officer in the New York Consulate towards her. @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @PMOIndia
you can’t ignore this,” actor Simi Garewal wrote on Twitter.
On 24/11/2021. Indian embassy New York. Her father had died & she wanted a visa for India. This is the obnoxious behavior of an Indian officer in the New York Consulate towards her. @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @PMOIndia you can’t ignore this. pic.twitter.com/7ckWXnJqP0
— Simi Garewal (@Simi_Garewal) November 30, 2021
According to reports, the incident took place on November 24, when an Indian woman in New York went for visa processing.
In the video, she said her father passed away a day before, while the officer returned the application and said, ‘take your money’. The official was seen saying, “Just keep your money and go out.”
On 24/11/2021. Indian embassy New York. Her father had died & she wanted a visa for India. This is the obnoxious behavior of an Indian officer in the New York Consulate towards her. @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @PMOIndia you can't ignore this. pic.twitter.com/7ckWXnJqP0
— Simi Garewal (@Simi_Garewal) November 30, 2021
On being asked whether there was any missing paperwork, the staff apparently refused to answer and went inside. The entire proceeding was recorded on the mobile phone of the person accompanying the woman.
Towards the end of the video, an official told them that they were not supposed to use the camera inside the consulate.
“We have taken note of the complaint. The Consulate maintains the highest standards of public service. This particular incident does not reflect either its norms or its guideline of public functioning. The Consul General has personally reviewed the matter. based on the information presented, it has been decided to institute disciplinary proceedings against the officer,” the consulate said as soon as the video was brought to the notice of the consulate.
— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) November 27, 2021
The consulate later informed that visas were issued to those applicants.
“Visas were issued to the applicants expeditiously. Full facts in the case, including the conduct of all parties involved, are being reviewed by the Consul General. We remain committed to efficient and courteous consular services at all times, as we have been delivering these through the unprecedented challenges posed by the Covid-19,” the Consulate said.
