New Delhi, Mar 18 (EFE).- The Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has drawn global flak for using “politically motivated” tactics to revoke visa privileges to overseas critics of Indian origin.<\/p>
A Human Rights Watch statement on Monday pointed out how Modi often attends mass gatherings of his diaspora Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters abroad \u201cto celebrate Indian democracy, while his government has targeted people it claims are \u2018tarnishing the image\u2019 of the country.\u201d<\/p>
\u201cIndian government reprisals against members of the diaspora who criticize the BJP\u2019s abusive and discriminatory policies show the authorities\u2019 growing hostility to criticism and dialogue,\u201d said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.<\/p>
\u201cThe authorities seem intent on expanding politically motivated repression against Indian activists and academics at home to foreign citizens of Indian origin beyond India\u2019s borders.\u201d<\/p>
The rights group said over the past decade of Modi\u2019s rule, the government has canceled over 100 Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards and deported some status holders for allegedly showing \u201cdisaffection towards the constitution.\u201d<\/p>
The OCI status is available to foreign citizens of Indian origin or foreigners married to Indian nationals to obtain broad residency rights and bypass visa requirements but does not amount to citizenship.<\/p>
Many of those whose OCI visa status was revoked are Indian-origin academics, activists, and journalists who have been vocal critics of the BJP\u2019s Hindu majoritarian ideology.<\/p>
The cancellations have heightened concerns for OCI cardholders, whether living in India or abroad, many of whom have older parents and other strong personal ties to India.<\/p>
In 2021, the government downgraded the privileges of the 4.5 million OCI cardholders by re-categorizing them as \u201cforeign nationals,\u201d and requiring them to seek special permission to carry out research and journalism, or visit any area in India listed as \u201cprotected.\u201d<\/p>
Since then, academics like Indian-origin Swede Ashok Swain have had their OCI status canceled, while Nitasha Kaul, a British professor at the University of Westminster in London, was barred from entering India last month.<\/p>
\u201cIndian authorities are increasingly using what appear to be politically motivated tactics against the around 25 foreign reporters with OCI status working in India as of January 2024, embroiling them in opaque bureaucracy or simply denying them permission to continue reporting,\u201d the rights watchdog said.<\/p>
The nonprofit highlighted the difficulties faced by many foreign journalists living in the country as overseas Indian citizens.<\/p>
At least five foreign correspondents have lost the right to work in India since the government introduced the changes in 2021, EFE has found.<\/p>
HRW also highlighted the case of French journalist Vanessa Dougnac, who was forced to leave the country after more than two decades as a foreign correspondent for French publications like La Croix and Le Point.<\/p>
The Indian government recommended canceling her OCI status after calling her articles “malicious and critical,” making Dougnac’s departure a de facto expulsion.<\/p>
\u201cForeign governments eager to partner with India on trade and security should take note that the Indian government is increasing repression to hide a deteriorating human rights situation,\u201d Pearson said.<\/p>
\u201cThese governments should press the Modi administration to interact with its critics to bring about reform instead of intimidating them into silence.\u201d EFE<\/p>
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