UK-Based Indian-Origin Professor Loses OCI Status For ‘Anti-India Activities’

London: Nitasha Kaul, an Indian-origin professor from the UK, who made headlines after being deported within hours of landing at the Bengaluru airport last year, has now lost her Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status.

Kaul took to X on Sunday to reveal that her OCI status has been revoked for “indulging in anti-India activities”. She attached an image of a part of the official letter from the Government of India.

“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,” Kaul posted on X.

The part of the notice shared by Kaul states: “…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.”

Kaul is a faculty member in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Westminster. Kaul graduated from Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), and did her master’s and PhD from the UK’s Hull University.

She also mentioned the Bengaluru episode in a trailing post, calling it an insult to the non-BJP Karnataka state government that had invited her. Kaul was invited by the Karnataka government to speak at a convention, but she alleged that immigration officials refused entry to her by “informally” making “references” to her “criticism of the RSS”.

“Denied entry to India for speaking on democratic & constitutional values. I was invited to a conference as (an) esteemed delegate by (the) Govt of Karnataka (Congress-ruled state) but (the) Centre refused me entry. All my documents were valid & current (UK passport & OCI),” she had posted last year.

The episode at Bengaluru airport led to a political battle between the BJP and the Congress in Karnataka.

“Congress party has disgraced the Indian Constitution by inviting a Pakistani sympathiser who wants India’s break up,” the BJP had posted on X.

“It is now apparent that the Congress party is now using Karnataka as its laboratory to prepare ground for its divisive agendas, potentially undermining national unity & integrity,” the post stated.