The leaders have once again taken a dig at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) regarding what is the correct criteria and appropriate document to prove citizenship. In fact, in a statement on June 24, MEA said that passport is not a definitive proof of citizenship. After this statement many people started taking a dig at the government. Because passports can be given only to Indian citizens.
Opposition leaders took a jibe at the Center and said that if voter card and passport are also not sure proof of citizenship, then citizens can ask which document should be considered as valid and sure proof of citizenship? Regarding this statement of the Ministry of External Affairs, senior Supreme Court lawyer and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal shared a post on X. He asked the question that if passport is not a document of citizenship, according to the ministry it is only a travel document, then which document is the proof of citizenship?
What is the correct document of citizenship?
Rajya Sabha MP Sibal claimed that in this case, if the Booth Level Officer (BLO) of the Election Commission doubts his citizenship, he can be deprived of his vote. The BLO may doubt my citizenship and I may be debarred from voting. In this way the result will be that BJP won the election.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has jokingly targeted the ruling party by making religious and political remarks. He said that it seems that today the only certificate of Indian citizenship is that you are a Hindu and a voter of BJP.
‘Are these documents given to non-Indians also?’
While Shiv Sena (UBT) called MEA’s statement absurd, MP Aditya Thackeray raised questions on verification before issuing passport and asked whether this document is issued to non-Indians also. He said, ‘If MEA believes that passport is not a document of citizenship then the first question is what does the police verify before giving the passport? And secondly, does our country also give passport as a travel document to non-Indians?
He asked whether now the statement of MEA will create doubt in the minds of other countries whether non-Indians get Indian passport as this document or not. He said that apart from its very confused foreign policy, how much more irrational can the MEA be?
The Kerala unit of Congress in a sarcastic post took aim at the use of identity documents, saying Aadhaar is a card. PAN card is for cooking. Voter ID is for showing, not for voting. Income tax return is to return your income. Election affidavit is for creative writing. And Modi is a joke!
What did MEA say?
The MEA clarified that the passport is a travel document, and highlighted the measures included in the new chip-based e-passport, such as biometric data. This will increase global acceptance and reduce the risk of fraud. Officials said the passport serves only as a travel document and is not a citizenship document as it confirms the nationality of Indians abroad. The passport is issued after very careful scrutiny, and is based on documents from several government agencies.
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