(The following letter was sent from CPI(ML)-New Democracy to Rt. Hon. Theresa May M.P., Home Secretary, U.K. through British High Commission, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi on October 10, 2013)

Through this letter we wish to draw your kind attention to the proposed introduction of the £ 3000.00 UK Visitor visa pilot scheme which applies to visitors from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ghana and Nigeria only. While there is no scientific immigration data to substantiate that visitors from these countries overstay the permitted period of their visa, the proposed imposition of £ 3000 cash bond scheme only on the visitors from these countries, four South Asian and two African, is highly discriminatory and smacks of racism.

This scheme will cause a lot of hardships to the families and prevent them from sharing their happiness on occasions like weddings and other social events and also their sorrows in cases of deaths and terminal illnesses.

Besides smacking of racism, this scheme also creates division between haves and have nots as not all can afford £ 3000.00 cash for the bond.  It will put a lot of burden on the common families who can not afford the above mentioned sum. These ought not be used as occasions for earning money by the Govt. and using its interest in these times of economic hardships.

We request you to withdraw this £ 3000 cash bond scheme for the visitors to UK from India and other countries.