"Rahul Gandhi chooses to become UK citizen by choice but probably want to remain Indian by compulsion because he is a Lok Sabha MP and does politics in the name of family. So, he is Indian by compulsion and presents him British by choice," he said.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi chose to become UK citizen by choice, but probably want to remain Indian by compulsion, said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra hours after Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a notice to Gandhi over his citizenship on Tuesday.
Describing Rahul Gandhi as a "man of mysteries", BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra asked which is real—"Rahul Gandhi London wale or Lutyens wale".
"Rahul Gandhi chooses to become UK citizen by choice but probably want to remain Indian by compulsion because he is a Lok Sabha MP and does politics in the name of family. So, he is Indian by compulsion and presents him British by choice," he said.
"We have registration papers, dissolution and annual returns of Backops Limited. Rahul Gandhi is director, promoter and secretary. In annual returns of the company filed on October 10, 2005, Rahul was a shareholder of 65 per cent. He has presented himself as British in registration papers, dissolution papers and annual returns," he added.
1. MHA issues notice after Swamy's complaint
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Earlier yesterday, MHA issued notice acting on a complaint by Rajya Sabha MP Dr Subramanian Swamy. The complaint states that the Congress president had declared his nationality as British in a UK-based company. The BJP leader demanded Rahul should dismiss these documents in a press conference and tell that he has not authenticated them.
2. No political vendetta: BJP
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Patra also denied any political vendetta behind MHA's notice in which he was asked to respond in the matter within a 'fortnight'. "If complaints go to the Home Ministry and leader of the house, they are bound to get clarification from authority against whom the complaint is made. This is not political vendetta but a clarification that the country seeks," he said.
3. Home Minister's comment
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Hours after the MHA served a notice to Congress president Rahul Gandhi seeking clarification on his citizenship status, Home Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday said the timing of the communication is not relevant, even though it came in the middle of general elections.
"It is not a big development. It is a normal process," he said, when asked about his ministry serving the notice to the Congress chief asking him to clarify within a fortnight his "factual position" on a complaint questioning his citizenship status.
The Home Ministry issued the letter after it received a representation from BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in which he has claimed that a company named Backops Limited was registered in the United Kingdom in 2003 with Gandhi as one of its directors.
4. Normal process: Rajnath
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Singh told mediapersons, "If any member of Parliament raises a question in Parliament, it becomes necessary to respond to it. If any MP writes a letter to any ministry, then necessary proceedings are undertaken by the ministry. It is not a big development, it is a normal process." Asked specifically if the timing of the letter raising question on the citizenship of the country's main opposition leader was relevant as it comes in the election season, Singh replied, "No, no. This question was raised in Parliament also. A Member of Parliament (Dr Subramanian Swamy) has written to the ministry several times as well, following which the action has been taken." Gandhi is seeking reelection from the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency which goes to polls in the fifth phase of voting on May 6
