Guwahati, June 25: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has raised questions regarding the government’s stance on whether a passport is considered proof of citizenship. He has demanded a clear response from the central government on this issue. Gogoi emphasized that a passport issued by the Indian government is not just a regular document; it is an official document recognized and accepted by governments worldwide.
Gogoi pointed out that if the Ministry of External Affairs claims that a passport is not proof of citizenship, it naturally raises the question of whether the Indian government issues passports to non-citizens. He questioned who exactly receives a passport, noting that it is typically issued to individuals who are citizens of India.
He further stated that if a passport is not acknowledged as proof of citizenship, there should be clarity on what constitutes proof of citizenship. Gogoi expressed concern that this issue is creating confusion among citizens, and the government must address it.
Representing Assam, Gogoi also brought up the National Register of Citizens (NRC) issue. He mentioned that the politics and processes surrounding the NRC in Assam have been closely observed by the state’s residents. This raises the legitimate fear that the government might be attempting to implement a system similar to the NRC through other means.
He accused the government of systematically undermining various documents as proof of citizenship. According to Gogoi, voter ID, PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, and now passports are being stated as insufficient proof of citizenship.
Gogoi questioned whether Indian passports are issued to citizens of China, Sri Lanka, or any other foreign country. If not, he asked, on what basis is it claimed that a passport is not proof of citizenship?
He concluded by stating that this is a significant issue, and the government must clearly outline the legal status of various documents related to citizenship. Moreover, citizens have the right to know the government’s perspective on this matter.
Leave a Comment