MEA Clarifies Denial of Entry to UK Writer Nitasha Kaul

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) addressed the denial of entry to UK-based writer Nitasha Kaul, emphasizing that granting entry to a foreign national is a sovereign decision for the country. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clarified the government’s position following Nitasha Kaul’s account of being denied entry at the Bengaluru airport, where she was invited by the Karnataka government for a seminar.

Nitasha Kaul took to social media to express her ordeal, stating that she was denied entry despite having valid documents and an invitation from the Congress-ruled state of Karnataka. Kaul alleged that the decision was made in New Delhi and linked to her past articles critical of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). BJP leaders referred to her as a “known terrorist sympathizer” spreading anti-India propaganda.

In response, the MEA spokesperson stated, “This particular UK national (Nitasha Kaul) came to India on 22nd Feb. As you know, the entry of foreign nationals into our country is a sovereign decision.” The denial of entry has sparked a political debate between the Congress and the BJP, with a VHP leader urging the Union home minister to terminate Kaul’s Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card.

The incident highlights the complex interplay of political, ideological, and sovereign considerations influencing entry decisions for foreign nationals in India.