Government examining Salma Agha's request for Overseas Citizen of India card

The Indian government is examining Pakistan-born actress and singer Salma Agha's request for granting her Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status and a OCI card, that would grant her life-long visa, on the grounds that her Indian maternal grandfather had adopted her, said an informed source.

"Her request has reached the union home ministry and is being examined accordingly," a source told IANS here.

Salma was the daughter of Liaqat Gul Agha and Nasreen (Zarina Ghaznavi), but her Salma's maternal grandparents were actor Jugal Kishore Mehra and actress Anwari Begum, sources said.

"Apparently Salma is now claiming the OCI card on the ground that Jugal Kishore Mehra, who hailed from Lucknow, had adopted her at a later stage. Things are under examination," the source said.

As per rules, a foreign national who is a child, grandchild or a great grandchild of Indian citizen is eligible for registration as OCI card holder.

The OCI cards are often a much sought-after official document, given after the home ministry's nod, allowing the holder a multiple-entry, multi-purpose lifelong visa to visit India and exemption from reporting to police authorities for any length of stay, the source said.

However, according to established rules, any person whose parents and grandparents were citizens of Pakistan and Bangladesh cannot be eligible for registration as an OCI.

Salma Agha, as an actress and playback singer, had made her Indian debut with film 'Nikaah' in 1982 and won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer.

--IANS

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