Salma Agha seeks Overseas Citizen of India card

Pakistan-born Bollywood singer and actress Salma Agha has applied for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card and her request is being examined by Home Ministry. Agha has applied for the card that gives multiple entry, multi-purpose life long visa to visit India and exemption from reporting to police authorities for any length of stay in the country, official sources said today. The Pakistan born artist is UK citizen. She had given her voice to few Bollywood films and acted in some of them. Agha had won Filmfare best female playback award in 1982 for her rendition "Dil Ke armaan aansuon me beh gaye" in movie 'Nikaah'. "The Home Ministry is examining her request. A decision will be taken soon," a source said. The OCI card gives parity to an individual with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties. 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. There are few other conditions to get OCI card. However, no person, who or either of whose parents, grandparents or great grandparents is or had been a citizen of Pakistan and Bangladesh shall be eligible for registration as an Overseas Citizen of India card holder. Pakistani singer Adnan Sami was in January this year given Indian citizenship. Among others who have been staying in India and working on employment visa are Katrina Kaif (UK citizen), Deepti Naval (US citizen) and Yana Gupta (Czech citizen).