'Sovereign Decision': MEA On Denial Of Entry To UK Academic Nitasha Kaul

‘sovereign decision’: mea on denial of entry to uk academic nitasha kaul

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday addressed the recent controversy surrounding the denial of entry to UK writer Nitasha Kaul, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal asserting that granting entry to a foreign national is a sovereign decision of the Indian government.

“This particular individual is a UK national. Entry to India is our sovereign right,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said while addressing a press conference.

The denial of entry has sparked a heated exchange between political parties, with Congress and BJP engaging in a war of words over the incident.

Nitasha Kaul, a UK national of Kashmiri origin, shared her experience on social media after being denied entry at the Bengaluru airport, despite being invited by the Karnataka government for a seminar. According to Kaul, the decision was conveyed from New Delhi and was allegedly based on her past articles critical of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). BJP leaders have labeled Kaul as a ‘known terrorist sympathizer’ spreading anti-India propaganda.

Kaul, expressing her frustration on social media, wrote, “Denied entry to India for speaking on democratic & constitutional values. I was invited to a conference as an esteemed delegate by the Government of Karnataka (Congress-ruled state), but the Centre refused me entry. All my documents were valid & current (UK passport & OCI).”

Karnataka VHP leader Girish Bharadwaj, questioning the Congress government in the state for inviting Kaul, has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging the termination of Nitasha Kaul’s Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. Bharadwaj alleged that Kaul frequently visits India with a malicious agenda against the country’s interests and called for state governments to refrain from inviting her as a guest for any events in India.

The MEA spokesperson clarified that Nitasha Kaul arrived in India on February 22, reiterating the country’s sovereign stance on the entry of foreign nationals. The incident highlights the intersection of political opinions, freedom of expression, and national security concerns, prompting a broader debate on the government’s authority over such matters.