Govt revokes OCI status of Atish Taseer who had called PM Modi ‘Divider-In-Chief’

In May this year ahead of the LS elections results, Aatish Taseer had written a cover story for Time magazine in which he had called PM Modi ‘Divider-In-Chief’.

New Delhi: The UK Writer Aatish Ali Taseer’s Overseas Citizenship of India status has been revoked. The Union Home Ministry said that the step has been taken after it came to light that he had concealed information that his father was from Pakistan.

However, Taseer countering the claim by the MHA has said that he was not given enough time by the Indian govt to respond to the charge. He also said that he felt he was being punished for what he had written for Time Magazine in May.

In May this year ahead of the Lok Sabha elections results, Taseer had written a cover story for Time magazine in which he had called PM Modi ‘Divider-In-Chief’.

This is untrue. Here is the Consul General’s acknowledgment of my reply. I was given not the full 21 days, but rather 24 hours to reply. I’ve heard nothing from the ministry since. https://t.co/z7OtTaLLeO pic.twitter.com/t3LBWUtkdi

— Aatish Taseer (@AatishTaseer) November 7, 2019

One of the Home Ministry spokespersons clarified the step taken by the government saying that Taseer is not eligible to hold an OCI card, as per the Citizenship Act, 1955. The OCI card is not issued to any person whose parents or grandparents are Pakistanis.

Taseer is born to Pakistani politician Salman Taseer and Indian Journalist Tavleen Singh. As his father traces his roots back to Pakistan, MHA said that Aatish Taseer “hid this fact”. The spokesperson denying allegations of Taseer said that the 38-year-old author was given the opportunity to submit his reply/objection to the OCI card but he failed to do so. Meanwhile, Taseer says instead of a mandatory period of 21 days, he was given only 24 hours to file a dispute/reply.