Indian Government Cancels OCI of British Professor Over Allegations

A British professor specializing in Kashmir politics and international relations at Westminster University in London has claimed that her Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) has been revoked by Indian authorities due to accusations of “anti-Indian activities.”

Nitasha Kaul shared the news on social media, revealing details about the communication she received from the Indian government. This incident follows her earlier post from February, where she highlighted instances of academics being denied entry into India for a meeting in Bengaluru.

“I believe that arresting scholars in India as a means to combat hatred is intricately connected to restricting access to the country for non-Indian scholars,” Kaul expressed in a post on X.

“It’s essentially a message: don’t even think about challenging us or discussing what you’re trying to convey to the world,” she added.

According to the OCI regulations as mentioned by the Indian High Commissioner in London, the Indian government has the authority to cancel an individual’s OCI registration under specific circumstances, including cases where they determine that an individual of Indian origin shows dissatisfaction with the Indian Constitution.

In documentation related to her OCI cancellation, Kaul was accused of “numerous irrelevant writings, speeches, and journalistic activities on various international platforms and social media.” She denounced the revocation as “an example of malicious, vindictive, and cruel oppression,” asserting that she faced repercussions for her “academic work on anti-systemic issues and anti-ethnic policies.”

The London High Commissioner for India has been contacted for comment.