‘No Greater Crisis’: Oppn Attacks Centre After MEA Says Passport Not A Proof of Citizenship
‘No Greater Crisis’: Oppn Attacks Centre After MEA Says Passport Not A Proof of Citizenship Published By, Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 00:28 IST Opposition
‘No Greater Crisis’: Oppn Attacks Centre After MEA Says Passport Not A Proof of Citizenship Published By, Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 00:28 IST Opposition parties slam MEA after it says Indian passports are travel documents, not conclusive proof of citizenship, demanding clarity on what proves Indian nationality The MEA said an Indian passport is primarily a travel document and not a citizenship certificate, clarifying that it attests a person's nationality while overseas. (IMAGE: NEWS18 FILES) Opposition parties on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Centre after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that an Indian passport is a travel document and should not be treated as conclusive proof of citizenship. The clarification came amid growing public confusion over the use of passports as proof of citizenship and eligibility for government benefits. Reacting to the clarification, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) questioned what citizens should rely on to establish their citizenship if government-issued documents are deemed insufficient. Also Read: Is Indian Passport Proof Of Citizenship? MEA Says It’s Just A Travel Document In a post on X, the party said: “If the passport is not proof of citizenship, Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship, Voter card is not proof of citizenship, Ration card is not proof of citizenship, then what is proof of citizenship?
The very government that issued these documents itself is now leaving citizens standing in line to prove their identity in their own country. The question is not just about documents. The question is: Will every Indian now have to repeatedly prove their citizenship? First, they said get an Aadhaar. Then, they said get a voter card. Then, get a passport. Then, get a ration card." “Today, they’re saying none of these is proof of citizenship. So, what exactly have citizens been getting all these years? Documents or illusions? Should the citizen prove their citizenship, or should the government prove its intentions? The biggest question is not what proof of citizenship is. The biggest question is: When even the passport, Aadhaar, voter card, and ration card—issued by the government itself—cannot be trusted, how can the government be trusted? Distrust in documents is, in fact, distrust in citizens. And in a democracy, there is no greater crisis than this," it added. Meanwhile, Congress leader Mumtaz Patel also questioned how citizens were expected to establish their nationality. In a post on X, Patel wrote, “Ok, how do I prove I am an Indian citizen… Real, factual and serious answers only please." Taking to X, TMC Leader Mahua Moitra said, “It would seem that the only proof of Indian citizenship today is to be both Hindu and a BJP voter.
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