Why was Nitasha Kaul, Kashmiri Pandit professor in UK, denied entry to India?

Nitasha Kaul, a Kashmiri Pandit working as a professor at the University of Westminster in the United Kingdom, was denied entry to India.

Kaul, who is also a novelist, writer and a poet, said in a social media post that she was invited by the Karnataka government for an event but was deported upon landing at Bengaluru airport.

"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)," she said, sharing pictures of the invitation extended to her by the Karnataka government and other conference-related communications.

The UK national claimed she was given no reason by immigration officials.

Kaul said, "My travel & logistics had been arranged by Karnataka & I had the official letter with me. I received no notice or info in advance from Delhi that I would not be allowed to enter." She described her ordeal, saying, "I spent 12 hours in a flight from London to Bangalore, several hours at immigration where they shuttled me here and there, provided no info on process, then 24 hours in a holding cell (no BA flight back until next day) under direct cctv w (with) restricted movement, a narrow area to lie down."

She said she was denied entry into India at the behest of the central government as she had criticised the RSS in the past.

Reacting to the development, the Karnataka BJP was quick to label the professor an "anti-India element" and a part of what it called a 'Break India Brigade'. The BJP also went on to label Kaul a "Pakistani sympathiser".

Kaul, however, maintained she is not anti-Indian but a globally respected academic passionate about liberal democratic value. She added that right-wing Hindutva trolls have for years threatened her with death and rape.

There was no immediate comment from the Karnataka government, which had organised a two day 'Constitution and National Unity Convention -2024' on February 24 and 25, to which Kaul was invited as a speaker.

(With PTI inputs)