Centre issues notice to Rahul Gandhi over citizenship status
What's the story
Right in the middle of ongoing Lok Sabha polls, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday sent a notice to Congress President Rahul Gandhi to explain his position on a row pertaining to his citizenship. The notice was issued on the basis of a complaint of BJP MP Subramanian Swamy, who has been claiming for years that Rahul is a British citizen. Here are the details.
Letter
Rahul has been given a fortnight to reply
BC Joshi, Director, Citizenship in the ministry signed the letter and gave Rahul a fortnight to reply. Earlier this month, Dhruv Lal, who is contesting from Amethi as an independent candidate, took objection to Rahul's citizenship. However, the Congress chief was given a breather after returning officer refused to scrutinize his documents.
Issue
Since 2015, Swamy spoke about Rahul's citizenship numerous times
Notably, in 2015, Swamy had mentioned the issue for the first time. And, since then he has raked it several times. He said Rahul called himself a British citizen on the returns of a UK-based firm "Backops Limited". "The onus to prove he is innocent is on Rahul," he said at the time. Rejecting the allegations, Congress maintained Rahul has always been an Indian.
Notice
You declared your nationality as British: MHA
Referring to Swamy's complaint, Joshi wrote that Rahul was one of the directors and secretary of Backops Limited. The company was registered in the United Kingdom in 2003 and had the address 51 Southgate Street, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9EH. The letter added that Rahul's date of birth was mentioned as June 19, 1970, in the documents and he declared his nationality as British.
Twitter Post
Here's a copy of the letter
Ministry of Home Affairs issues notice to Congress President Rahul Gandhi over his citizenship after receiving a complaint from Rajya Sabha MP Dr Subramanian Swamy; MHA asks Rahul Gandhi to respond in the matter within a 'fortnight'. pic.twitter.com/rkFu6TJ7lu
— ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2019
Reaction
How can Rahul contest polls, asked Swamy
Speaking on the development, Swamy asked how can Rahul contest elections if he isn't an Indian citizen. When Swamy was informed that Congress called this move BJP's desperation, he replied the party had a broken record. "They are saying the same thing over and over, tell them to find something new. They said the same thing in the National Herald case," he told News18.
Twitter Post
Rahul's Indian citizenship should be canceled, suggested Swamy
#EXCLUSIVE – No, his Indian citizenship should be canceled and he may reapply for the citizenship if India decides to give it to him: @Swamy39 tells @shreyadhoundial on #SettingTheAgenda. pic.twitter.com/50TKGEcJW9
— News18 (@CNNnews18) April 30, 2019
Information
For first time, Rahul is contesting from two seats
Meanwhile, Rahul is contesting from two constituencies- Amethi in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad in Kerala. He is also facing a separate contempt plea for falsely quoting the Supreme Court verdict on Rafale deal to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi.