British academic’s says her OCI status was cancelled for questioning ‘anti-democratic’ Modi regime
Indian-origin British academician Nitasha Kaul on Sunday said that her Overseas Citizen of India status was cancelled, alleging that the action was taken owing to her scholarly work on the “anti-minority and anti-democratic policies” of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Kaul said that this was a “bad faith, vindictive, cruel example” of transnational repression.
Overseas Citizen of India is an immigration status that allows foreigners of Indian origin to live and work in India indefinitely.
In a post on X, the academician and writer shared a communication from the Union government that accused her of indulging in “anti-India activities” that were said to have been motivated by a disregard for facts or history.
The communiqué from the government read: “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.”
Commenting on her Overseas Citizen of India status being cancelled, Kaul said: “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.”