94-year-old woman appeals for Indian citizenship in Andhra Pradesh, says she wants to die as an Indian

94-year-old Kondragunta Mahalakshmamma became a US citizen in 2000 and lived in the US for nearly 18 years. Now, she wants to regain her Indian citizenship as the last wish of the Andhra Pradesh woman is to die as an Indian. The video of her meeting the district authorities urging them to make her an Indian citizen soon is doing the rounds. Mahalakshmamma is a native of Chinthagumpala village in Chinaganjam mandal, Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh. Accompanied by her son, she appeared before Bapatla District Collector J Venkata Murali on Wednesday and requested that her citizenship application be processed at the earliest.

Mahalakshmamma said that after the death of her husband, Nagabhushanam, she moved to Petersburg, Virginia, United States, to live with her son, Buchaiah Choudhary, an oncologist. She acquired US citizenship in July 2000 and lived there for about 18 years. She returned to India in 2018 and settled in her native village after her son began working at NRI Hospital in Mangalagiri. She said she already relinquished her US citizenship and applied for Indian citizenship through the online portal. She told officials that she wished to spend the rest of her life in her homeland and wanted her last rites to be conducted in her native village. "Collector garu, I am nearing 95 years of age. My only wish is to spend my final days in my motherland as an Indian citizen. I want my last rites to be performed in my native village. I have already given up my US citizenship. Please help me obtain Indian citizenship at the earliest," she said. She asserted that she would respect the Constitution of India and abide by all laws of the country if her citizenship was restored. She urged the authorities to grant her the legal right to live the remainder of her life in the nation where she was born.

The collector said the application would be processed as per procedure. After completion of the inquiry, a report would be forwarded to the state government, which would then send its recommendation to the Centre for consideration of citizenship.