All You Wanted to Know About YouTuber Karl Rock | Real Reason for Ban from Entering India

#youtuber #karlrock #newzealand #india #blogger #governmentofindia

Since last 2 days the one name that has been constantly hitting the headlines in India is that of YouTuber Karl Rock. He has been blacklisted by India and so he can no longer enter the country. But who exactly is Karl and what is his story? And why has been banned?

Here's some clarity in chaos

Karl Rock's real name is Karl Edward Rice. According to the description on his Youtube channel, Karl Rock is a Hindi speaking expat who left his career and life behind in New Zealand to take his viewers behind the scenes of incredible India.

In his videos, he shares tips for foreigners to help them travel confidently & safely in India and updates the world on its outdated perceptions about the country.

It further adds that Karl has visited every state and union territory in India, and its culturally similar neighbours – like - Pakistan and Bangladesh, and aims to make others fall in love with India and the subcontinent.

Karl is married to Manisha Malik from Haryana. His description concludes by stating that he lives with his wife and her family in New Delhi, and loves to make masala chai for the family and share his Indian life on social media.

But as of now, there is more masala in his own story than the masala chai he makes and he claims that he has been stuck in New Zealand and has not seen his wife for the past 270 days and counting.

Reason? The Indian government has reportedly blacklisted him and blocked his entry to the country. Responding to these reports, the government sources have said that Karl Rock was blacklisted "for violating multiple visa norms including doing business on a tourist visa".

Karl Rock had been living in India for ten years with his wife and her family and amassed over 1.8 million followers on his YouTube channel talking about India and making millions on the platform. He got married in 2019 and stayed with his wife and her family in Delhi's Pitampura area.

But 2 days back, he uploaded a YouTube video titled "Why I haven't seen my wife in 269 days." The monetised video, after the playing the ads, talks about how Karl has been separated from his wife Manisha Malik and her family as a result of being put on the Government of India's blacklist.

Karl Rock also spoke about not being able to be with his wife when she had Covid-19 during the second wave in India. He said, "Being exiled from my family has been very difficult to deal with," "In the beginning, I would get panic attacks. Now it's progressed into me being extremely unhappy."

Karl Rock had earlier said that he had not been provided with a reason for the suspension of his visa to India. His visa was suspended at the airport in October 2020 when he was travelling from India to Dubai and Pakistan.

He said that he had written to the High Commissioner of India in New Zealand and the Ministry of Home Affairs in India multiple times, since the suspension of his visa. However, all his requests went unanswered.

On Twitter, he appealed to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for help also sending a video of his "struggle." He complained the New Zealand PM that the Indian Government had blocked him from entering India, separating him from his wife and family in Delhi. He accused the Indian govt of blacklisting him without giving him reasons. So far there is no news from any response from the New Zealand PM, who is indeed, quite active on Twitter.

But the government of India has been very clear on the reasons for the ban.

After Karl's news started picking up in national and international media, an official from the Union home ministry told news agency ANI that Karl Rock has been blacklisted by India "for violating multiple visa norms including doing business on a tourist visa".

He said that Karl is barred for one year and his visa has been cancelled.

What are your thoughts on the Karl Rock saga? Let me know what you feel about this developing story, in the comments section below.

[Superenvisaage]

I very rarely comment on you tubers... For the past 2-3 days I have been seeing content produced by this particular one... Karl Rocks... Someone who in his video says he was terminated from his job one Friday evening and also adds in the same video he gave up his career (which one I am left wondering) to become a YouTuber.. Wife is an Indian by origin and I wonder how she is OK with him maligning her

Says he creates content do help India with Tourism.. However, almost all the videos seem to show people as scammers and touts out to get after foreign tourists. He consciously constantly breaks rules..

1. Drove his motorcycle on Mumbai - Pune expressway and pretended he did not know or understand any language except English while communicating with a poor Marathi Cop... Reality he know and understands and speaks Hindi

2. When a gentleman stopped him from shooting at the Delhi Metro.. He labeled him as the menace.

3. He used a drone to film on an Island and when he was caught by the cops.. He admits in this video he would not tell them what they wanted to hear so he could act innocent and escape penalty and having the drone confiscated.

4. Has posted about how Indian religious place are out to force donations in the name of God... No evidence of either in his video.

5. Around the Taj he does a counter of touts at times he strikes a conversation and adds that to his counter of being approached by a tout.

6. In a car conversation in Nagaland when the driver says the government sent out all the American Missionaries he openly says it's because of the Modi Government in power now.

7. He films in ladies toilets... I wonder if he takes permissions at all... His video covers importance of cleanliness and the man in one of the toilets he is filming at pees and sees no need to wash his hands.

7. Sometimes Karma smiles... Must watch are the videos of his visit to Pakistan after walking across the Wagah Border... Its impossible to believe it's the same man who has almost never said anything good about this trips in India...

The last straw for me was...

8. My request after seeing his video about Ross Amongst all the nonsense you produce as content... I and many of my countrymen would appreciate you don't comment on our history and I really feel your opinion of Bose and his contributions and vision for India's freedom is most uncalled for... Get your facts right before you speak in the future.

What are the rules for foreigners making vlogs in India in public places?

Being Me (July 2019 post on FB)

[JK]

I don't get why people speculate stupid reasons when he's banned solely due to visa violations. It's not a big deal, a hell lot of people are banned due to visa violations in every country every single day!

[wanderingsoul]

Why Indian has so much obsession with white foreigners. Our Indian are also barred from entering many countries. Why no news!!

[april]

My husband finally accepted my "not Indian" Hindi accent because of this dude. He finally realized we don't all get the accent right. I hope he can be with his family soon. However, we did read some stuff tho that kinda makes me ask "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!" Being a foreigner from America I realized over the 6 years that I've resided in Delhi, 1.India has survived thousands or hundreds Of thousands of years without my input and 2. as a foreign person I should probably just keep it to myself. There are so many things we don't get and as people who appreciate but understand other cultures we need to leave it to the professionals. In my humble opinion. *it's so important to mind yourself when you are not of the place you are living.* again in my opinion. I give when I can where I can but I do my darnedest to not step on toes. The Indian culture is so incredibly intricate and intertwined that if you are not of that fiber, best to not get tangled up. Again in my opinion only.

[sonalchoudhary]

He flouted visa rules, sat in political protests, he did give his views on supporting anti CAA. Either you respect the law of land or face the law. Many Indians are separated from their families due to their visas being rejected by western countries but no hue and cry about that.

[abcd]

Hey bro your statement that Karl Rock has both Indian and New Zealand citizenship is factually incorrect as India does not allow dual citizenship and he can never be Indian 🇮🇳 citizen if he is already holding citizenship of New Zealand 😂😇

[roopangeetandon]

Look at karl Rock's sense of entitlement & superiority. Instead of apologizing for breaking Indian laws, he is playing victim card and asking for signing Petitions. So outrageous.Indians r NOT fools.

[amoreshpaul]

Respect the law of the land. Any other nation would have done the same, let's not blow this out of proportion and why not his family tries visiting him in new Zealand, I guess they are not blacklisted there. Promoting India and exposing scams does not gives any one any liberty to bypass the visa laws.

[lizlaksh]

I follow karl and he seems to be a nice person...yes he got stucked in musoorie when nationwide lockdown started and all those who follow him knows it well...his passion for India and love for his wife is evident but may be smwhere down the line he forgot to draw the line and got unlucky...hoping for the best for Karl....

[arnabsaha]

There's more masala in his own story than the masla chai that he makes lmao 🤣🤣🤣

[Rockeeeyyy]

For a Year... He banned I guess😌😌 . Blaming the Govt not would be a Great Option.You may did lots of Good although ur Intention were Immature to Documented something Political and Telling people more about it to join in that Movement not good. GOI may be harsh but That's what the International Visa Policies are.

[ramakalimireddi]

If he wants to meet his wife he can take his wife to New Zealand it is not a big deal.

[tenzingbhutia]

He has to come to India for content as his rozi roti depends upon Youtube. I hate his video though it's good to alert people about scammers but after watching his video one can feel Dat India is all about scam and the ppl over fhere are scammers... His Pakistan blogs was filled with praises .. ufff I do find him irritating n ppl who don't respect our country should be barred..

[malhanneera]

As Far As I remember- He was protesting along side ( CAA)Protests ? Is nt it ODD???Afterall-- He must have come to India, with Document's OR Did he arrive in India -- Diwar tap ker??? GUSPAITHYE type 🙊🤔

[shubhankverma]

Indian laws need to be respected period.

[deveshkrtrehan]

I'm glad the government took actions. People can't feel that they can take this country and it's laws for granted or followed per their whims while other countries laws are sacrosanct. With little or zero understanding of the logic behind the law what gave him the right to use his platform or influence to preach ot India what our laws should or shouldn't be... Has he tried it with an Islamic nation why the hypocrisy and dual standards. These statements from the govt are necessary our demography isn't a joke to be played with per peoples whims white brown or black skinned. I'd have loved to hear him talk similar stuff in pak or any other country. The very fact we as a country care to take side is distasteful and unpatriotic other nationals atleast are unified when it comes to their country as a whole.

[gayatriyemi]

Lol complained to the nz Pm 😂😂
Why can’t these people just follow rules of India? Why do people behave like every other country needs to respected but not the laws of the Indian land?? Think it’s because bharat has always been tolerant. Also how can he have dual nationality? 🤔

[debaratibasu]

He can call his wife to NZ. What's stopping him? He broke laws, he has been denied a visa . If I go to another country I take extreme care to see to it that I do not violate a single rule. That's my duty as a visitor.

[Akshay-dbic]

I have seen his most Videos where he is showing mostly negative side of India. Hardly any video showing any good side. But when in Pakistan, mostly praising Pakistan. Well that is his choice. But if not at fault, his suspension should be lifted.

[malhanneera]

Whenever-- We go to another Country, by Tourist Visa, we stay put there! We don t hop across, to the neighbouring Countries (to say hai) and come back( jab marzi)? Maybe-the Govt Authorities can clearfy, more on that 😎