London/New Delhi, May 19 — The Indian government has officially revoked the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status of British academic Dr. Nitasha Kaul, a professor at the University of Westminster, citing her involvement in “anti-India activities” and her “disregard for facts or history”. The cancellation notice was shared by Dr. Kaul on social media over the weekend.

The Kashmiri-origin political theorist, who teaches at the Department of Politics and International Relations in London, was deported from India last year shortly after arriving at Bengaluru International Airport, where she had been invited to participate in a Congress led Karnataka government -sponsored academic conference.

Government Justifies Decision on Grounds of Sovereignty

According to the excerpt from the notice shared by Dr. Kaul on X (formerly Twitter), Indian authorities accused her of engaging in “numerous inimical writings, speeches and journalistic activities” that allegedly undermined India’s sovereignty and constitutional framework.

“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,” the notice stated. It further accused her of creating disaffection towards Indian institutions through her public commentary and academic work.

Kaul Calls Move “Transnational Repression”

Responding to the cancellation, Kaul described the decision as a politically motivated act of “transnational repression.” In her posts, she linked the government’s move to her critical scholarship on what she describes as anti-minority and authoritarian trends in contemporary Indian politics.

“This is a bad faith, vindictive, and cruel example of punishing me for my academic work on democratic backsliding and minority rights in India,” she wrote.

Kaul also referenced her deportation in February 2024, stating she was barred from entering India despite being formally invited by the Congress-led Karnataka state government. According to her, immigration authorities denied her entry after alluding to her criticism of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organization closely associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“All my documents were valid—UK passport and OCI,” Kaul said at the time. “Being denied entry on political grounds is an affront to democratic norms.”

Broader Pattern of OCI Cancellations?

Kaul’s case is the latest in a series of high-profile instances where overseas academics and commentators of Indian origin have had their OCI status cancelled. In 2022, Sweden-based academic Ashok Swain had his OCI card revoked under similar allegations. The Delhi High Court later reversed that decision.

Another case involving U.S.-based professor Khalid Jahangir Qazi saw the cancellation overturned in November 2024, with the court finding the government’s claims legally unsubstantiated.

Under India’s Citizenship Act, OCI status can be cancelled if the holder is deemed to have violated any provisions of the Act or to have acted “against the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India.” While not equivalent to Indian citizenship, OCI grants lifelong visa-free access and certain legal and economic rights in India to foreign nationals of Indian origin.

Political Backlash and Support

The BJP’s Karnataka unit strongly criticized the Congress-led state government for inviting Kaul, labeling her a “Pakistani sympathiser” and accusing her of harboring divisive views. “Congress has disgraced the Indian Constitution by inviting individuals who want to see India break apart,” the party said in a statement last year.

About Nitasha Kaul

Dr. Kaul earned her undergraduate degree from Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce and completed her postgraduate studies, including a PhD, at the University of Hull in the United Kingdom. She currently directs the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Westminster.