Indian-Origin Professor Denied Entry in India for Attending Event in Bengaluru

Professor Nitasha Kaul, invited by the Karnataka Government for a convention, was denied entry at Bengaluru airport and deported without any prior notice or reason provided by immigration officials.

A professor of Indian origin at the University of Westminster in the United Kingdom, who was invited by the Karnataka Government to attend an event in Bengaluru, was denied entry upon arrival at the Bengaluru airport and subsequently deported, as per her posts on social media platform X.

Professor Nitasha Kaul's Ordeal

Professor Nitasha Kaul, a Kashmiri Pandit academic based in London, took to X to share her experience. She claimed that immigration officials at the Bengaluru airport provided no reason for denying her entry and that she received no prior notice or information from the Indian government regarding the denial of entry.

The Karnataka government, which had organized a two-day Constitution and National Unity Convention -2024 on February 24 and 25, invited Kaul as a speaker. However, there has been no immediate response from the government regarding this incident.

Criticism of RSS Cited as Reason

In her X posts, Kaul mentioned that authorities unofficially indicated that her criticism of the RSS in the past might be the reason behind the denial of entry.

Reacting to the development, the Karnataka BJP promptly labeled Professor Kaul as an anti-India element and part of what they termed the "Break India Brigade." The party criticized the Karnataka Government and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for extending an invitation to Kaul.

The BJP further labeled Kaul a Pakistani sympathizer and shared headings of a few of her writings on X.

Documents and Detainment

Both Kaul and the Karnataka BJP shared a document addressed to the station master of British Airways at Bengaluru Airport, stating that she was refused permission to land in India. Her nationality is mentioned as United Kingdom in the document.

Kaul asserted that immigration officials provided no explanation except for stating, "We cannot do anything; orders from Delhi." She described her ordeal, highlighting the long hours spent in transit, lack of information provided during the process, and being held in a holding cell for 24 hours with restricted movement and limited facilities.

BJP's Accusations

The BJP alleged that the Congress government was jeopardizing India's unity and integrity by inviting Professor Kaul, who has extensively written and spoken about Kashmir, Bhutan, and other topics.

The party claimed that the Congress was using Karnataka as a testing ground for its divisive agendas and expressed gratitude to the security agencies for apprehending Kaul, whom they referred to as an anti-India element.

The denial of entry to Professor Nitasha Kaul and her subsequent deportation have sparked controversy and raised questions about freedom of expression and academic freedom in India. The incident has also highlighted the ongoing political tensions between the Congress and BJP in Karnataka.