India Revokes Visa Privileges Of Overseas Critics Of The Modi Government: Report

Amidst rising concerns of censorship, Indian authorities have been revoking visa privileges for Indian-origin critics living overseas who have been vocal about their opposition to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government’s policies, according to a Human Rights Watch report. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s action targeting dissenters has raised concerns over the shrinking space for criticism within and outside India.

The Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) status grants residency rights and exempts holders from visa requirements. Several Indian-origin academics, activists, and journalists, particularly those critical of the BJP’s Hindu majoritarian ideology, have seen their OCI status revoked. Some have challenged this action in Indian courts, citing constitutional protections for free speech and livelihood.

Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, expressed concern over the Indian government’s reprisals against diaspora members critical of the BJP’s policies. Pearson highlighted a trend of escalating hostility towards dissent and dialogue, both domestically and among foreign citizens of Indian origin.

The case of Ashok Swain, an Indian-origin Swedish academic whose OCI status was revoked, underscores the government’s actions against the right to freedom of speech. Despite legal challenges and court orders, authorities cited vague reasons such as “hurting religious sentiments” and “attempting to destabilise the social fabric of India” without substantive evidence to support the allegations.

The targeting of academics like Nitasha Kaul, who was barred from entering India on February 23, and foreign journalists with OCI status adds to concerns about freedom of expression. The government’s opaque bureaucracy and citing of criticism as grounds for visa revocation raise eyebrows about its commitment to democratic principles. Kaul, a vocal critic of the saffron party and its associated groups, testified about human rights violations in the valley of Jammu and Kashmir before the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

In the report, Kaul reveals that she has been on the receiving end of countless rape and death threats online from supporters of the saffron party, both from India and overseas. She has also been labelled as a “jihadi,” “terrorist,” and “pro-Pakistani.”

The Modi government’s approach to OCI status holders has evolved, with privileges for the 4.5 million OCI cardholders downgraded in 2021, requiring special permission for certain activities in India. Over 100 permits have been cancelled, and individuals have been deported for alleged disaffection with the Constitution, creating anxiety among OCI cardholders, including those living abroad.

American-Sikh journalist Angad Singh was deported by authorities in 2022. Upon challenging the decision, the government informed the Delhi High Court that Singh’s 2020 documentary, covering the 2019-20 protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), showed a “very negative view of India’s secular credentials.”

Other times, the authorities have been quite open. British activist Amrit Wilson was told that her social media posts mentioning Kashmir and an article written by her criticising police brutality during the farmers protests in 2020-21 were the reasons behind her visa being revoked.

Pearson called on foreign governments engaging with India on trade and security to address the escalating repression and intimidation of critics, urging these governments to advocate for dialogue and reforms instead of silencing dissenting voices.

In the last ten years, the central government of India has cancelled over 100 permits and deported some OCI holders based on allegations of portraying “disaffection towards the Constitution.”