Stories
Actor Imran Khan Asked To Leave India Over Protest Participation
- •Actor and US citizen Imran Khan was ordered to leave India by October 28 following his participation in a protest in Mumbai.
- •Khan was detained on October 10 while demonstrating in support of the Cockroach Janta Party.
- •BJP leader Kirit Somaiya filed a complaint alleging Khan violated OCI rules and visa conditions by joining the political protest.
- •Overseas Citizens of India do not possess the political rights or the constitutional freedoms of assembly guaranteed to Indian citizens.
- •The Citizenship Act outlines strict grounds for OCI cancellation and allows authorities to regulate the stay of foreign nationals.
Key Questions Answered
OCI cardholders do not enjoy the same constitutional guarantee of peaceful assembly and free speech as Indian citizens under Article 19, as they remain foreign nationals. However, official guidelines do not explicitly classify mere attendance at a public protest as a prohibited activity requiring prior permission, meaning each case depends on individual conduct, rules, and the nature of the event.
The OCI scheme offers a lifelong multiple-entry visa along with specific benefits regarding property, education, and professional activities. Despite these privileges, cardholders do not receive Indian or dual citizenship, and they are strictly prohibited from voting, contesting elections, or holding certain constitutional offices and government jobs under Section 7B of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
Under Section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955, the Union government can cancel an OCI registration for fraud, concealment of material facts, disaffection toward the Constitution, certain serious criminal convictions, or violations involving national sovereignty, security, and public interest. The law mandates that the cardholder be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard before any cancellation order is finalized.
