The Bharat Summit 2026 is a two-day event in Hyderabad, held on November 13 and 14.
About 1,000 delegates, policymakers and thinkers from 70 countries have come together for it.
Opposition leaders allege that around 115 of the 315 approved foreign speakers were denied entry or had their visas cancelled at the last minute.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
The summit is organised by Congress.
Visas decide who can enter India and take part in events here.
So this row raises questions about how such decisions are made, and how foreign guests are treated.
Key points
- The MEA says visa decisions are a sovereign function of every country.
- Opposition leaders allege around 115 of 315 approved foreign speakers faced visa problems.
- The Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad runs on November 13 and 14.
- The BJP has criticised the Congress-organised summit as anti-India.
What did the government say about the visa decisions?
Randhir Jaiswal, the MEA spokesperson, spoke at a media briefing on Friday, November 13.
He said visa matters are sovereign functions of any country or government.
He repeated the point in Hindi.
When asked about the claim of 115 speakers, he said visa decisions fall within national jurisdiction.
What are the opposition's main complaints?
Shashi Tharoor, a former Minister of State for External Affairs, and several Congress MPs have raised the issue.
They say the Union Home Ministry took the decisions, even though the speakers had prior political clearance from the MEA.
Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng was among those reportedly affected.
Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda said a panel on the global economy he was to moderate was delayed.
This happened while the visa status of a participant from the United Kingdom was checked.
Hooda called the blocking of foreign invitees unfortunate in a democracy governed by the Constitution.
He also said the exchange of ideas should not be seen through a political lens.
So what happens next for the summit?
The summit continues on November 14. Telangana Minister Mohd Azharuddin praised the opening day.
He also praised Rahul Gandhi's initiative behind the international forum.
The BJP has launched a counterattack against the Congress over the summit.
The political debate around the event is continuing.
Explainer
What happened before
- Congress leaders say the Union Home Ministry took visa decisions even though the speakers had prior political clearance from the MEA.
- Opposition leaders allege around 115 of the 315 approved foreign speakers were denied entry or had visas revoked.
- The two-day Bharat Summit 2026 is being held in Hyderabad on November 13 and 14, with about 1,000 delegates from 70 countries.
Why it matters
Visa decisions decide who can come to India and speak at events here, so this row raises questions about how such decisions are taken.
What to watch next
- The summit continues on November 14, and the BJP has launched a counterattack against the Congress over the event.
