Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been issued a notice by the home ministry to explain his position over complaints on his citizenship. The complaint has been filed by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy who has alleged that Rahul Gandhi is a British citizen.
The home ministry asked the Congress chief to explain his “factual position” in the matter within a fortnight of receipt of the communication
The home ministry said it has received a representation from Dr Subramanian Swamy in which it “has been brought out that a company named Backops Limited was registered in the United Kingdom in the year 2003, with address 51 Southgate Street, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9EH and that you were one of the directors and secretary of the said company.”
“It has been brought out in the complaint that in the complaint that in the company’s annual returns filed on 10/10/2005 and 31/10/2006, your date of birth has been given as 19/06/1970 and that you have declared your nationality as British. Further, in the dissolution application dated 17/02/2009 of the above refereed company, your nationality has been mentioned as British,” says the letter from BC Joshi, director of citizenship, home ministry.Congress said the notice is a political move by the BJP in the midst of parliamentary elections as they are losing ground. “BJP is losing. It’s a political move in the middle of the elections. They have made Rahul Gandhi the agenda. Answers will be given, legal process will be followed,” Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha told NDTV.
The BJP had raised allegations of discrepancies in Rahul Gandhi’s nomination form for Amethi Lok Sabha seat. His nomination papers were found valid by the returning officer.
A petition was also filed in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court that wanted the judges to cancel Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha membership, claiming that the Congress leader had filed tax returns in London in which he was described as a British national.