The Allahabad High Court has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to decide by December 19 on a petition questioning the citizenship status of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleges that Gandhi holds British citizenship, sparking political controversy.
The PIL was filed by Karnataka BJP worker S. Vignesh Shishir, who claims to possess evidence suggesting Gandhi is a British citizen. The bench, comprising Justice Attau Rahman Masoodi and Justice Subhash Vidyarthi, passed the interim order during a hearing on Tuesday.
The court instructed the Home Ministry to act on the petitioner’s representations, which had earlier gone unanswered. The representations sought the cancellation of Gandhi’s Indian citizenship and called for an investigation into his alleged dual nationality.
Allegations and Investigation
Shishir contends that confidential emails from the UK government suggest Gandhi’s association with British nationality. However, the British authorities declined to disclose personal data without Gandhi’s explicit consent, citing General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
The matter also saw intervention from former BJP MP Subramanian Swamy, who filed a similar plea in the Delhi High Court earlier this month. Swamy and Shishir have both urged for a thorough probe into the issue.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been involved, with Shishir confirming that he has shared confidential evidence with the agency. “Various investigative agencies are examining this matter, and I have presented key documents to the CBI,” he stated.
Political Reactions
The citizenship row has reignited debates, with the Congress party dismissing the allegations as politically motivated. On the other hand, BJP leaders have leveraged the controversy to question Gandhi’s credibility as a leader.
As the December 19 deadline approaches, the Ministry’s decision is likely to have significant political ramifications.
