BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has asked the Delhi High Court to direct the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to make a decision on his request to cancel the Indian citizenship of Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi.
The High Court is expected to hear the plea next week. The petition was submitted by lawyer Satya Sabharwal.
In 2019, Swamy had written to MHA that Gandhi was one of the Directors and Secretary of a UK-based company Backops Limited, which was registered in 2003.
He claimed that Gandhi declared his nationality as British in the company’s Annual Returns filed on October 10, 2005 and October 31, 2006. Further, in the company’s dissolution application dated February 17, 2009, Gandhi’s nationality had again been mentioned as British.
Swamy said that this violates Article 9 of the Constitution of India and Indian Citizenship Act, 1955.
Later, he took to Twitter saying, “My Associate Advocate Satya Sabharwal has filed A PIL on the failure of the Home Ministry to prosecute Rahul Gandhi and show cause why he should not be stripped of his Indian citizenship. Rahul Gandhi has refused to reply to HM hence the PIL. I also thank Associates Vishesh Kanoria.”
My Associate Advocate Satya Sabharwal has filed A PIL on the failure of the Home Ministry to prosecute Rahul Gandhi and show cause why he should not be stripped of his Indian citizenship. Rahul Gandhi has refused to reply to HM hence the PIL. I also thank Associates Vishesh Kanoria.
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) August 16, 2024
SC dismissed plea to restrain Rahul Gandhi from contesting elections
The MHA wrote to Gandhi on April 29, 2019 asking him to “intimate the factual position” in this regard including a fortnight.
However, in May 2019, SC dismissed the plea to restarain Gandhi from contesting General Election due to his supposed British Citizenship.
However, Swamy has argued that despite more than five years having passed after his letter, there is still no clarity from the MHA as to what decision has been taken on it.
(With inputs from Bar and Bench and agencies)
