Centre Given 4 Weeks by HC to Decide on Rahul Gandhi’s Citizenship
The Allahabad High Court has given the Union Home Ministry four weeks to make a decision on the citizenship status of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. The Ministry had initially sought eight weeks to make the decision, but the request was rejected by the Court. The petitioner in the case has accused Rahul, who is the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, of holding citizenship of both the UK and India.
The petition was filed by Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, who claimed that Rahul Gandhi’s mother, Sonia Gandhi, had renounced her Indian citizenship in 2011 and obtained British citizenship. He claimed that Rahul Gandhi, being her son, would also be a British citizen by virtue of his mother’s citizenship.
The petitioner argued that Rahul Gandhi’s continued membership in the Lok Sabha is unconstitutional and illegal, as he is not a citizen of India. He sought the Court’s direction to the Election Commission to disqualify Rahul Gandhi from contesting elections and to the Home Ministry to take necessary action to revoke his Indian citizenship.
In its response, the Union Home Ministry had sought eight weeks to make a decision on the matter. However, the Allahabad High Court rejected the Ministry’s request and gave it four weeks to take a decision.
The Court’s order came as a result of a hearing on the petition on January 27, 2023. During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel argued that the Home Ministry’s delay in taking a decision was causing harm to the national interest and the Constitution. He also pointed out that the Ministry had already received all the necessary documents and information required to take a decision on the matter.
In response, the Home Ministry’s counsel argued that the Ministry needed more time to verify the documents and information provided by the petitioner. However, the Court rejected this argument and gave the Ministry four weeks to make a decision.
The Court’s order has sparked a heated debate in the political circles, with many questioning the timing of the petition and the motivation behind it. Some have accused the petitioner of trying to discredit Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party, while others have criticized the Home Ministry for its inaction on the matter.
The Congress Party has rejected the petition and accused the petitioner of trying to mislead the Court. In a statement, the Party said that Rahul Gandhi is a proud Indian and has always maintained that he is a citizen of India. The Party also accused the petitioner of trying to create a controversy and divert attention from the real issues.
The issue of Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship has been a topic of controversy for many years, with some questioning his eligibility to contest elections. In 2019, the Supreme Court had dismissed a petition seeking to disqualify Rahul Gandhi from contesting elections on the grounds that he was a British citizen. However, the Court had directed the Election Commission to verify Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship before allowing him to contest elections.
The Allahabad High Court’s order has given the Union Home Ministry four weeks to make a decision on the matter. If the Ministry fails to take a decision within the given time frame, the petitioner can move the Court again to seek further action. The outcome of the case is likely to have significant implications for Indian politics, particularly for the Congress Party and its leader, Rahul Gandhi.
In conclusion, the Allahabad High Court’s order giving the Union Home Ministry four weeks to decide on Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship has sparked a heated debate in the political circles. While the petitioner has accused Rahul Gandhi of holding citizenship of both the UK and India, the Congress Party has rejected the petition and accused the petitioner of trying to discredit Rahul Gandhi and the Party. The outcome of the case is likely to have significant implications for Indian politics, and it remains to be seen what decision the Home Ministry will take on the matter.
