Indo-Canadian stateless man fights for citizenship

An Indian-origin man born in Canada, who has been rendered stateless following a deportation order for criminal offences, is continuing his fight for citizenship in a federal court, a media report said Wednesday.

Deepan Budlakoti, 25, born in Ottawa to Indian parents, was to be deported after drugs and firearms convictions four years ago and has since fought for reinstating his Canadian citizenship.

"I'm born and raised in Canada, and the government's trying to deport me to a country where I've never been to," he told Metro News Canada.

The government stated that since Budlakoti's parents were employed by the Indian high commission at the time of his birth, he does not qualify for Canadian citizenship despite having Canadian birth certificate and passport.

His parents refute that they had left the Indian high commission job before the birth of their son.

India, having received no application for citizenship from Budlakoti, has denied he is a citizen of the country or entitled to a citizenship.

"If this can happen to me, it's setting a new precedent in Canada," Budlakoti added.

-- Indo-Asian News Service

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