BJP Defends MEA Stand on Passport Citizenship Debate

The remarks followed a political storm that had brewed after the MEA stated that an Indian passport is a travel document and not the citizenship certificate of the country. 

Government Cites Law And Court Ruling

Citing the Passports Act, 1967 and a Bombay High Court judgement in 2013, the government said to the people that citizenship is determined under the Citizenship Act, 1955 and mere possession of any one document is not sufficient proof of citizenship.

In section 20 of the Passports Act, 1967, a non-citizen can get a passport if they meet certain conditions.

Congress Targets Centre Over Passport Remarks

The opposition has escalated their attack on the centre over the MEA’s clarification that Indian passports are primarily travel documents, not conclusive proof of citizenship and has asked what document could Indians rely on to prove their citizenship.

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate posted, “The Modi government says that a passport is not proof of citizenship. Is India's passport also issued to non-Indians? Does the police come to conduct what verification before issuing a passport?

Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship; Passport is not proof of citizenship; PAN is not proof of citizenship; Voter ID is not proof of citizenship. So, what is proof of citizenship? Modi's foot-kissing? BJP's ID? RSS's cap?” on social media platform X.

BJP Dismisses Criticism Over Passport

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya attacked the opposition for turning a settled legal principle into a manufactured controversy. A citizenship is derived from birth records, parents’ citizenship status if needed, school records, Electoral rolls, government service records, land and property records, the passport, and other contemporaneous government documents, Malviya said. 

Referring to the Passports Act, he further pointed out that the Act itself empowers the Central government to issue a passport or travel document even to a non-citizen in specific circumstances.

“The law itself therefore recognises that possession of a passport cannot, by definition, be treated as conclusive proof of citizenship,” he said.

“This distinction is neither unusual nor controversial. A passport is an important identity and travel document. It is evidence that may support a claim of citizenship. But citizenship itself flows from the Constitution and the Citizenship Act, not from the possession of any single government-issued document,” he added.