Congress Slams MEA Statement Declaring Passport ‘Not Proof of Citizenship’

New Delhi (IANS): Congress leaders lashed out at the BJP-led Central government on Thursday after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that an Indian passport is not proof of citizenship. Demanding immediate clarification, the opposition warned that such declarations would trigger widespread confusion among citizens.

The controversy erupted after an MEA official remarked at a Passport Seva Divas event on Wednesday that the public should primarily view a passport as a travel document rather than definitive citizenship proof.

Legal Contradictions Ignite Debate

Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid highlighted a critical legal overlap. “The Passport Act explicitly states that authorities can deny a passport if a person is not a citizen. If non-citizenship is a ground for refusal, then issuing a passport must carry some weight regarding citizenship,” Khurshid argued.

While Khurshid acknowledged that the Citizenship Act formally determines status, he emphasized that the two laws must be read together. He urged the Union government to explain why it is formally issuing this clarification now, after so many years, noting that ordinary citizens will struggle to grasp the distinction.

Echoes of NRC Anxieties

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also demanded answers, asking if the MEA’s statement implies that the government has been issuing passports to foreign nationals. “As per the Passport Act, authorities issue passports only to bona fide Indian citizens, making it an inherent proof of citizenship,” Gogoi stated.

Reflecting on his firsthand experience with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, Gogoi reminded reporters of the immense hardships ordinary people faced while trying to prove their identity.

“One by one, the Union government is disqualifying key documents—Voter ID, PAN, [Aadhaar Redacted], and now passports. Maybe the government feels that only an NRC listing counts as valid proof,” Gogoi remarked.

Unnecessary Confusion for the Public

Echoing these concerns, Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar questioned the sudden debate. He noted that while a passport is not the only proof of citizenship, authorities only issue it to Indian nationals alongside complementary documents like Voter IDs.

“I do not understand why the government is making such statements or raising these objections,” Wadettiwar told reporters. “This narrative only creates unnecessary confusion and spreads misunderstanding among the public.”