'Sovereign Decision': MEA Responds After UK Professor Nitasha Kaul Claims Denied Entry To India

The MEA's comment comes after Nitasha Kaul, an Indian-origin professor in UK, claimed she was denied entry into India after she arrived at the Bengaluru airport and was later deported.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said entry of foreign nationals is a sovereign decision.

Source : ANI

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday, while responding to the denial of entry to a UK professor, said that the entry of foreign nationals into the country is a sovereign decision.

The MEA's comment comes after Nitasha Kaul, an Indian-origin professor at the United Kingdom's University of Westminster, claimed on Monday that she was denied entry into India after she arrived at the Bengaluru airport and was later deported. 

Responding to the incident, MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "This particular national came to India on February 22. As you know, the entry of foreign nationals into our country is a sovereign decision."

Nitasha Kaul in a series of posts on X last Sunday claimed that she was given no reason by the immigration officials at the airport and received no notice or information in advance from the government that she would not be allowed to enter India, a report in PTI said.

Kaul had arrived in Bengaluru to attend an event for which she was invited by the Karnataka government.

"Denied entry to India for speaking on democratic & constitutional values. I was invited to a conference as esteemed delegate by Govt of Karnataka (Congress-ruled state) but Centre refused me entry. All my documents were valid & current (UK passport & OCI)," Kaul posted on X (foremerly Twitter) on Sunday. 

The invite by the Karnataka government sparked controversy after the BJP claimed that Kauld had alleged sympathies towards Pakistan, according to ANI.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti attacked the BJP on the matter and claimed the party was "weaponising" passports and imposing "illegal" travel bans to "harass and punish" its critics.

"BJP is brazenly weaponising passports, revoking OCI cards & imposing illegal travel bans to harass & punish its critics. Aatish Taseer, Ashok Swain & now Nitasha Kaul. Stand in solidarity with Nitasha for the harrowing experience she was put through only because she doesnt agree with their hateful divisive ideology," Mehbooba Mufti posted on X on Monday.