A 94-year-old woman from Andhra Pradesh has renounced her US citizenship. She wants to spend the last days of her life as an Indian citizen in her own country. With this request she met the Collector so that she could get her Indian citizenship back as soon as possible.
Bapatla (Andhra Pradesh): Even after spending almost 20 years in America, a mother’s heart beats for her soil only. 94-year-old Kondragunta Mahalakshmiamma, resident of Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh, wants to spend the last moments of her life in her country, as an Indian. With this desire she approached the District Collector.
She said emotionally in front of the Collector, “I am about to turn 95. I want to spend my last days as an Indian citizen in my birthplace. My last rites should be held in my own village. Therefore, please get me back the Indian citizenship as soon as possible…” This video of Kondragunta Mahalakshmiamma is now going viral on social media. He spent 18 years in America, also took citizenship there, but now his last wish is to die as an Indian.
Mahalaxmimma is a resident of Chintagumpala village in Bapatla district of Andhra Pradesh. Last Wednesday, he along with his son met Bapatla District Collector J. Venkat Murali, so that the citizenship process could be expedited. After the death of her husband Nagabhushanam, Mahalaxmimma moved to Virginia, USA, to live with her son Butchaiah Chaudhary, an oncologist (cancer specialist). She got American citizenship in July 2000 and after that she lived there for 18 years.
But when his son got a job at NRI Hospital in Mangalagiri, he returned to India in 2018 and settled in his village. Mahalakshmiamma assured the officials that she will fully respect the Indian Constitution and follow the laws of the country. She told the collector that she had officially renounced her US citizenship and had also applied for Indian citizenship through an online portal. Their only demand is that they should be given the legal right to live in the soil in which they were born as soon as possible.
District Collector J. Venkat Murali has assured them that their application will be examined as soon as possible following all legal procedures. After the completion of the local investigation, its report will be sent to the state government. On the recommendation of the state government, the Union Home Ministry will take the final decision on restoration of citizenship.