Professor Deportation: Indian Government Cancels OCI Status of Academic Who Criticized Kashmir Policies
Professor’s OCI Status Revoked After Testifying Against India
Nitasha Kaul, a Britain-based professor of Kashmiri Pandit origin, has had her Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status revoked by the Indian government. The government cited her “anti-India activities” as the reason, accusing her of repeatedly attacking India’s sovereignty in international forums and on social media.
Kaul testified against the Indian government at a US House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing in 2019, focusing on alleged human rights violations in Kashmir. The government notice, shared by Kaul on X (formerly Twitter), states: “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 further alleges that Kaul “regularly targets India and its institutions on the matters of India’s sovereignty” through her writings, speeches, and journalistic activities.
Deportation Sparks Controversy
The controversy surrounding Kaul intensified in 2024 when she was deported within hours of landing at Bengaluru’s international airport. Invited by the Congress-led Karnataka government to speak at a convention, Kaul alleged that immigration officials refused entry, citing her criticism of the RSS. She took to social media to express her frustration, stating, “Denied entry to India for speaking on democratic & constitutional values.”
Kashmir Testimony Draws Ire
Kaul’s 2019 testimony before the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs was particularly critical of India’s actions in Kashmir following the revocation of Article 370, which granted the region special autonomous status.
In her testimony, she accused India of perpetuating state violence against Kashmiri protesters, alleging that “human rights are being flouted in both Indian and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.” She also questioned the legality of the Article 370 revocation, describing it as an “authoritarian colonial power” move.
Academic Background and Response
Kaul, a graduate of Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce and Hull University in the UK, currently teaches Politics, International Relations, and Critical Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Westminster in London. Her university has publicly shared her testimony.
Kaul’s case has sparked debate about freedom of expression and the Indian government’s approach to criticism, particularly concerning its handling of Kashmir.
