The Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday issued a notice to Congress President Rahul Gandhi based on a complaint about his alleged British citizenship, ANI reported. The complaint was filed by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Subramanian Swamy.
The ministry has asked Gandhi to respond within two weeks. The notice was issued by BC Joshi, director (citizenship), of the Foreigners Division under the ministry.
The ministry’s notice to Gandhi said that Swamy cited documents of a company named Backops Limited registered in the United Kingdom in 2003, of which Gandhi was one of the directors and secretary. Swamy’s complaint claimed that the company’s annual returns filed in 2005 and 2006 showed Gandhi’s nationality as British.
The notice said Swamy claimed that an application for the company’s dissolution filed in 2009 also mentioned Gandhi’s nationality as British.
However, the Congress claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resorted to a “fake narrative” to divert attention, PTI reported. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said Modi has no answer on unemployment, agrarian distress and black money, and that is why he has resorted to such a narrative. Surjewala told reporters that the whole world knows Gandhi is an Indian citizen.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra toed the party line. “Everyone knows Rahul Gandhi was born [and] raised here,” she told reporters.
Earlier in April, four individuals had raised objections to Gandhi’s nomination papers filed in Amethi constituency for the Lok Sabha elections, claiming that he had declared himself a British citizen in the certificate of incorporation of a company registered in the United Kingdom. However, the returning officer later declared that his nomination papers were valid.
Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Sambit Swaraj said the questions that the Home Ministry has raised on Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship were based on authenticated documents. “Which Rahul is original? Rahul of London or Rahul of Lutyens,” Swaraj asked. “This is the story of three Cs – Citizenship, Confusion and Clarification. These questions raised by MHA are based on authenticated documents.”
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!