The Indian government has rejected the request for asylum by former US government contractor Edward Snowden, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday.
Confirming that the Indian embassy in Moscow did recieve an asylum request from Snowden, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said: "We don't see any reason to acceed to the request".
Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said that India is not an open house for asylums.
His comments came hours after WikiLeaks claimed that Snowden has applied for political asylum in 20 countries, including India.
He, however, told reporters on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional forum meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan that India has given asylums in past, "but we are not an open house for asylums since we have a very careful and objective policy".
The Obama Administration has warned countries not to give asylum to Snowden, arguing that he is wanted in the US on charges of espionage and leaking classified information. According to his leaks, the Indian embassy in the US is among the list of 38 diplomatic missions which were being spied upon by American intelligence agencies.
More on: India rejects Edward Snowden`s request for political asylum
Now, i see why Salman Kurshid said NO. (^ The bolded part)
Confirming that the Indian embassy in Moscow did recieve an asylum request from Snowden, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said: "We don't see any reason to acceed to the request".
Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said that India is not an open house for asylums.
His comments came hours after WikiLeaks claimed that Snowden has applied for political asylum in 20 countries, including India.
He, however, told reporters on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional forum meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan that India has given asylums in past, "but we are not an open house for asylums since we have a very careful and objective policy".
The Obama Administration has warned countries not to give asylum to Snowden, arguing that he is wanted in the US on charges of espionage and leaking classified information. According to his leaks, the Indian embassy in the US is among the list of 38 diplomatic missions which were being spied upon by American intelligence agencies.
More on: India rejects Edward Snowden`s request for political asylum
Now, i see why Salman Kurshid said NO. (^ The bolded part)
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