Bishop from England denied entry to India

A Bishop from England has been denied entry to India on speculations that he might preach.

Reverend Michael Perham, the Bishop of Gloucester was very much anticipating his travel to the diocese's partner churches in Karnataka.

Communications officer Lucy Taylor said the problem was due to the applying of a tourist visa.

She said: "Whenever we've gone before, both we and Lambeth Palace have always applied for a tourist visas.

"But the rules have changed recently, which we weren't aware of, and we should have applied for a business visa."

Lucy told the Gloucestershire Media Group: "The Indian visa people came back and asked us whether Bishop Michael would be preaching while on his visit.

"And in all honesty he couldn't say that he wouldn't be.

"It's a visit to our linked dioceses in India, and he might be invited to stand up and speak, so he couldn't say definitely he wouldn't be.

"That's why the visa was refused and we just didn't have enough time to get another one for this trip to go ahead."

She added: "It's disappointing that he couldn't go now, it's been a while since he's been out there and is keen to keep the links up with the two dioceses."

Mr Kaushik, from the Indian High Commission in London said, the bishop was denied visa as the purpose of his visit was for church and its activities and this is not permitted under tourist visa.

"We need a letter from the church or institute who will host him and we will look at what visa is appropriate," he said.