The Indian American community was reassured by a statement issued on Saturday by the Consulate General of India in New York regarding misleading reports about restrictions on Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders.
In their announcement, the Consulate clarified, “We have come across news reports spreading false information that restrictions have been placed on OCI cardholders in the recent past. Friends in the Indian American community are hereby informed that no new change has been introduced for OCI cardholders. Provisions of the Gazette Notification dated March 4, 2021, regarding the rights of OCI cardholders, continue to remain in force.”
Earlier, reports were circulating that the Indian government has tightened the rules for OCI cardholders, labelling them as "foreign nationals," effectively affecting their travel, business activities and religious practices.
Reports said that OCI cardholders would now be required to obtain additional permits for certain activities. It also said that they are advised against travelling to regions like Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh, conducting missionary work, and participating in religious activities in India.
The purported alterations would necessitate OCI holders to acquire permits to visit specific areas, making it more difficult for the global Indian diaspora to access India.
As a result, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) have voiced their frustration about the abrupt rise in bureaucratic obstacles impacting travel, business, and religious practices.
The controversy prompted a response from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which clarified that the Indian government is simply enforcing regulations that were announced in March 2021, without introducing any new modifications.
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