
Nitasha Kaul, Indian-origin professor in UK, loses OCI status over 'anti-India activities'
Nitasha Kaul, Faculty Member, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Westminster, was deported from Bengaluru airport last year
An Indian-origin professor in the United Kingdom (UK) has said that the government of India has cancelled her Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status for “indulging in anti-India activities.”
Nitasha Kaul, Faculty Member, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Westminster, was deported from the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru within hours of landing there, last year.
What Kaul said on X
Kaul took to her X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday (May 18) to share a notice from the Government of India stating that she “regularly” targets India with her “inimical writings, speeches and journalistic activities” at international forums.
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The notice read, “...and whereas it has been brought to the notice of the Government of India that you have been indulging in anti-India activities, motivated by malice and complete disregard for facts or history. Through your numerous inimical writings, speeches and journalistic activities at various international forums and on social media platforms, you regularly target India and its institutions on the matters of India's sovereignty.”
While sharing the notice on X, she wrote, “IMPORTANT NOTE - I received a cancellation of my #OCI (Overseas Citizenship of #India) *today* after arriving home. A bad faith, vindictive, cruel example of #TNR (transnational repression) punishing me for scholarly work on anti-minority & anti-democratic policies of #Modi rule.”
“Know that arresting academics in #India for speaking against hate is closely tied to removing access to country & family for academics outside India. Idea is to send a signal — don’t dare challenge us within & don’t dare analyse what’s going on to convey to audiences outside,” she added.