The government on Thursday blacklisted 2,550 foreign Tablighi Jamaat members for violation of visa rules and banned their entry into India for 10 years after they were found to be illegally living in mosques and religious seminaries across the country.
According to reports, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) took the action after various state governments provided details of the foreigners who were found to be illegally living in the country.
In April, the MHA had blacklisted 960 foreigners after they were found involved in Tablighi activities. According to the ministry, these people were present in India on tourist visas, but involved in the activities of the missionary. Most of them had also attended the controversial markaz event in Delhi's Nizamuddin area.
The MHA had also directed the DGPs of all states and Union territories and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi to take necessary legal action against such violators, on priority, under relevant sections of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and Disaster Management Act, 2005.
The congregation held in March and attended by thousands of people had run into controversy after many of the attendees tested positive for COVID-19, leading to a huge spike in the number of cases in the country.
The health ministry had in April said that nearly 30 per cent of the COVID-19 cases reported in India are linked to the Tablighi Jamaat's markaz event.
Last month, the Delhi Police confiscated the documents, including passports, of around 700 foreigners who attended the religious event.
Delhi Police's Crime Branch had on March 31 lodged an FIR against seven persons, including Tablighi Jamaat leader Maulana Saad, on a complaint by Station House Officer of Nizamuddin police station for holding the congregation in alleged violation of the orders against large gatherings to contain the spread of coronavirus.
The Enforcement Directorate has also filed a money laundering case against Saad, trusts linked to the Jamaat and others.
