Adnan Sami to get Indian citizenship
text_fieldsNew Delhi: Bollywood singer Adnan Sami, who was allowed in August to stay indefinitely in India following non-renewal of his Pakistani passport, is likely to be granted Indian citizenship.
His request for Indian citizenship has been endorsed by the attorney general of India and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is mulling granting him "citizenship by naturalization" in view of his "distinguished service to the cause of art".
“Sami, who has been staying in India since 2001, will be given Indian citizenship under Section 6 of the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955. The provision allows citizenship, through a certificate of naturalisation, to applicants with distinguished contribution in the field of science, philosophy, art, literature, world peace or human progress," The Hindu reported quoting a senior official.
Under the Indian Citizenship Act, a foreigner is entitled to receive citizenship provided that he or she has rendered distinguished service to the cause of science, philosophy, art, literature, world peace or human progress.
Sami, who has a Pakistani passport, had arrived in India in 2001 and, between 2001 and 2013, visited the UK and several other countries. He has a business and professional visa.