Rahul Gandhi's Citizenship Status in the Spotlight Again
Allahabad High Court to Assess Centre's Reaction Regarding Rahul Gandhi's Citizenship Petition Today
Get the scoop on the latest parliamentary drama unfolding at the Allahabad High Court! Here's what you need to know:
The Lowdown
- The court is deliberating on a petition accusing Congress MP Rahul Gandhi of flouting Indian law by allegedly holding dual citizenship.
- TheCentre has been ordered to give a clear and definitive answer regarding Gandhi's Indian citizenship status.
- The hearing, scheduled for Monday, follows the court's dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Home Affairs' (MHA) unclear response in the previous hearing.
A Brief History
- Back in 2003, Gandhi was reportedly associated with a UK-based company named Backops Limited as one of its directors and secretaries.
- It is alleged that from 2005 to 2006, the company's annual filings declared Gandhi as a British national.
- In 2009, the company's dissolution application also listed Gandhi as a British national.
- In 2019, the MHA sent a notice to Gandhi based on complaints by former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, who presented evidence of Gandhi's alleged British nationality.
The Present Scenario
- The MHA has requested extra time to verify information from the UK government, pushing the next hearing to May 5.
- The petitioners argue that Gandhi's purported dual citizenship contradicts Indian law, which doesn't allow for dual nationality.
Keep an Eye Out For...
- The court's decision on whether Gandhi's past declarations indicate he holds foreign citizenship.
- Potential political fallout,with critics alleging that the timing of the case is politically motivated.
Stay tuned for updates on this captivating parliamentary drama!
- Allahabad HC
- Allahabad High Court
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The Full Picture
- The Allahabad High Court is deliberating on a petition challenging Rahul Gandhi's Indian citizenship status, as the Centre is expected to clarify his citizenship eligibility. Here's the timeline and background:
Key Milestones
- 2003: Gandhi listed as director/secretary of UK-registered Backops Limited[3].
- 2005–2006: Annual filings of Backops Limited allegedly declare Gandhi’s nationality as British[2][3].
- 2009: Dissolution application of Backops lists Gandhi’s nationality as British[2][3].
- 2019: MHA issues notice to Gandhi following complaint by Subramanian Swamy, who cited UK company documents[3][4].
- April 2025: Court expresses dissatisfaction with MHA’s vague status report, grants 10-day extension for revised response[1][4].
- May 5, 2025: Court hears Centre’s revised report, which seeks more time for UK verification[1][3].
Critical Aspects
- Allegations: Petitioners claim Gandhi’s UK company affiliations and alleged British nationality breach India’s constitutional prohibition on dual citizenship (Article 9)[1][3].
- Legal Basis: Indian law disqualifies Lok Sabha members holding foreign citizenship[2][3].
- MHA’s Stance: Initially submitted an unclear report, later sought UK government verification[1][4]. A 2019 MHA notice acknowledged Swamy’s complaint regarding Gandhi’s "British" declarations[3].
- Political Context: The case resurfaces amid Gandhi’s role as Leader of Opposition, with critics alleging politically motivated timing[2].
- The Allahabad High Court is currently hearing a petition questioning Rahul Gandhi's Indian citizenship status, as the government is required to clarify his eligibility.
- The petition alleges that Gandhi, the Congress MP, has been in violation of Indian law by holding dual citizenship, as his name was reportedly listed as a British national in UK-based company filings from 2005 to 2006 and in 2009.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has requested extra time to verify information from the UK government, pushing the next hearing to May 5.
- If it is found that Gandhi does indeed hold foreign citizenship, it would contradict Indian law, as the country's constitutional prohibition on dual citizenship disqualifies Lok Sabha members holding foreign citizenship.
- The political landscape is anticipating potential fallout from the case, with critics alleging that the timing of the case is politically motivated, given Gandhi's current role as the Leader of Opposition.
