British couple ordered to leave India for putting up ‘Free Palestine’ stickers in Rajasthan

A British couple has been told to leave India for allegedly pasting “Free Palestine” stickers across a temple town in the western state of Rajasthan.

The state police said Lewis Gabriel D and Anushi Emma Christine violated tourist visa rules by engaging in political activities.

Authorities said they received a report on 21 January that the visitors were putting up stickers at multiple locations in the popular tourist town of Pushkar, advocating for Palestinian people. The stickers read: “Free Palestine. Boycott Israel.”

“Engaging in activities that disrespect other nations while on Indian soil is a clear violation of visa rules,” additional superintendent of police Rajesh Meena told The Times of India.

He separately told India Today: “Our watch on the activities of foreign nationals is very strict. If any foreign citizen is found violating the conditions of a tourist visa, they will be identified and strict action will be taken, including deportation and blacklisting for the future.”

He said the police’s criminal investigation department gave a notice to the couple on Monday under the Immigration and Foreigners Act of 2025, revoking their visas and mandating their immediate departure from India.

Pushkar is known as a popular destination for Israelis who visit India to unwind after their discharge from the military. The town currently hosts nearly 2,000 Israelis, and many of them frequent establishments that are linked to Chabad, a global Hasidic Jewish movement, local media reported.

Calls to “free Palestine” have intensified since Israel launched a devastating war on Gaza in October 2023, killing at least 71,800 Palestinians and reducing the densely populated territory to rubble.

The Independent