The American writer and journalist, Aatish Taseer, on Monday, took Twitter to announce that he has received citizenship of the United States. The author’s Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status was revoked by the government of India in November 2019 on the grounds of “failing to comply with the basic requirement and hiding information about his father’s Pakistani origin”.
Some news: at an oath-taking ceremony today in lower Manhattan, I became a US citizen. Less than a year after the Modi govt stripped me of my status in India, it is amazing to be part of this great country. I hope to vote in Nov—my first time!—for the bigheartedness I saw today. pic.twitter.com/TEM6dWQdyF
— Aatish Taseer (@AatishTaseer) July 27, 2020
Taseer gained popularity in India last year due to his article in the TIME Magazine where he called Prime Minister Narendra Modi “Divider-in-Chief” of India. Later, the author was attacked by several BJP ministers over his allegedly offensive remarks on the Prime Minister.
After a few months, in November, Taseer’s Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status was revoked by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The ministry stated that he had “concealed the fact that his father was of Pakistani origin”. Despite giving him the time to respond, the MHA revoked the status of OCI.
However, Taseer, in his statements has stated otherwise. He accused the Ministry of not granting him enough time to submit a response. He stated that people are given a window of 21 days to respond whereas he was given only 24 hours.
Taseer is the son of the Indian columnist Tavleen Singh and former governor of Pakistan’s Punjab, Salmaan Taseer. Currently working as a freelance journalist, Taseer has authored some great books and the most prominent one being ‘Stranger Lands: A Son’s Journey Through Islamic Land’.
On acquiring the United States citizenship in the year 2019, Taseer took the pledge of allegiance to the United States in Downtown New York today.
