Adnan Sami will soon be Mr India - Government all-set to give him Indian citizenship; My heart in the country, he says

Adnan Sami gets top legal clearance, Indian citizenship to follow soon

October 24, 2015, NewsCrunch

Pakistani singer Adnan Sami's quest to get Indian citizenship is drawing to a close with the central government reportedly set to consider his application favourably.

The Attorney General has recommended granting him citizenship due to his distinguished service to the cause of art, reports The Times of India.
The newspaper quoted a Home Ministry official saying the government would grant Adnan Sami citizenship by naturalization under Section 6 of The Citizenship Act, 1955.
Adnan Sami came to India in 2001 on a one year visa and stayed back as he found professional success in the country. His multiple visa extensions and pronounced pro-India stance made him an unpopular figure in Pakistan.

There have been protests targeting him and burning his effigies, Adnan Sami has stated.

Though he has sought Indian citizenship for sometime now, his case acquired an urgency when Pakistan refused to renew his passport this May effectively rendering him a stateless person.

On his request, the Home Ministry agreed to let him stay permanently in the country on humanitarian grounds.

Adnan Sami says he could have chosen to acquire citizenship any country without any hassle. But he persisted with India as he is known worldwide as an Indian singer and has his heart set in the country.