India, Nov. 13 -- Visa matters are "sovereign functions" of any Government, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday, responding to reports that multiple foreign speakers, including Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng, had their visas revoked or denied ahead of the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad.

Lyng, who briefly drew media attention during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Oslo in May over a question posed to the Indian side on press freedom, was reportedly scheduled to speak on a panel at the Hyderabad summit. "Visa matters are sovereign functions of any country or any government. So that is what I have to say," external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his regular media briefing.

He was responding to ...