India, Nov. 13 -- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday alleged that 115 of the 315 speakers invited to the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad were either denied entry into India or had their visas cancelled, apparently on the instructions of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Tharoor, who is attending the two-day summit, said he learnt about the restrictions after arriving in Hyderabad. In a post on X, he questioned the legal basis for the alleged action and said it was too late for the affected speakers to attend the event, which concludes on Saturday, November 14.

He said the speakers had received clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs before being refused entry or having their visas cancelled.

"What a shame that a proud democracy ...