A professor at the University of Westminster has claimed she was detained and deported upon arriving in Bengaluru to attend a conference organised by the opposition Congress party in Karnataka. Dr Nitasha Kaul, a faculty member in politics and international relations, alleged she was sent back to London without explanation after being held at Bengaluru International Airport. IMPORTANT: 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). THREAD 1/n pic.twitter.com/uv7lmWhs4k— Professor Nitasha Kaul, PhD (@NitashaKaul) February 25, 2024Dr Kaul shared online a copy of her invitation from Karnatakas Social Welfare Minister, H C Mahadevappa, to participate as a delegate at the Constitution and National Unity Convention. However, upon her arrival on Friday immigration authorities informed her that orders from Delhi meant she could not enter the country. I was given no reason except we cannot do anything, orders from Delhi, she posted, adding that her travel and logistics had been arranged by Karnataka and I had the official letter with me. Officials reportedly questioned Dr Kaul over criticisms of the RSS she had previously made. She told Indian media: This is not how a democracy works. Its tragic whats happening to the rule of law in India.According to conference organisers, efforts were made to intervene with authorities in New Delhi to assist Dr Kauls entry, but ultimately without success. Sources allege several international attendees faced extensive questioning, but only Dr Kaul was denied entry and deported back to London the next day. Dr Kaul possesses an Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card and claimed she has made personal visits to the country previously without issue. However, this marked her first official invitation - coinciding with a Congress-ruled state government event. The Indian government is yet to comment publicly on her claims of deportation. Meanwhile, the opposition BJP in Karnataka has accused Congress of “disgracing the constitution by inviting a Pakistani sympathiser who wants to break India”.
