India cancels the OCI status of British academic Nitasha Kaul over anti India activities
Nitasha Kaul, an Indian academic living in the UK, had her OCI status cancelled due to "anti-India activities."
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) May 20: According to a British Kashmiri professor of politics and international relations at the University of Westminster in London, the Indian government denied her Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) because of her suspected "anti-India activities."
On Sunday, Nitasha Kaul posted information on the communication she received from the Indian government on social media, accusing her of being pushed by "malice and complete disregard for facts or history.”
She posted,“Know that arresting academics in India for speaking against hate is closely tied to removing access to country and family for academics outside India.Idea is to send a signal — don't dare challenge us within and don't dare analyse what's going on to convey to audiences outside.” on social media platform X.
On February 25, 2024, Ms. Kaul received an invitation from the Karnataka government to attend an event, but she was refused entry into India.Within hours of arriving in India last year, the professor was ordered to leave.
In May 2024, a few months after her return to the United Kingdom, she was given a show-cause notice on why her OCI registration should not be cancelled.According to her, she received a notice that informed her that her response from last year was considered insufficient.
The notice which cancelled Ms. Kaul’s OCI registration stated that, “It has been brought to the notice of the Government of India that you have been found 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.”
The Karnataka unit of the BJP had criticised Kaul and the Karnataka government, which is ruled by the Congress.
"Congress party has disgraced Indian Constitution by inviting a Pakistani sympathiser who wants India's break up," it said on X.
Aadrika Tayal
