Keith Vaz takes up Ustad Amjad Ali Khan's visa issue

By Subhash K. Jha

Mumbai, Aug 18 (IANS) Keith Vaz, the British parliament’s longest-serving Asian MP, has offered all possible help to enable Indian sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan obtain a visa.
There was an uproar recently when Khan was denied a visa.
“I am grateful and indebted to Mr. Keith Vaz who is taking so much interest and helping me with this very odd and distressing problem.
“He is in London and yet taking such keen interest whereas Britain’s representatives in India are yet to allow me to meet them. I never had the honour of meeting the present British High Commissioner. Maybe some day, if not now, when I urgently need to meet him, then later. God bless him,” Khan said.
Khan would’ve liked the British High Commissioner to India to personally explain the visa problem.
“I wish the British High Commissioner or his team could have called me and helped to explain the problem instead of which Mr. Vaz is doing the needful sitting in London.”
Khan is also grateful to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for her help.
“Inspite of her busy schedule, I am sure Shrimati Sushma Swaraj and her office are also following up on my visa case.”
On Wednesday, Khan went to the British visa office in New Delhi with his new application.
“I am hoping to receive my British visa by August 19 as I am travelling to the US on August 20,” he said.