Created by Congress, blamed on BJP: Gaurav slams politics over Passport-Citizenship Row

Jammu: BJP Spokesperson and Convenor, International Affairs, Gaurav Gupta, launched a sharp attack on the Congress over the controversy surrounding passports and citizenship, stating that the opposition is deliberately misleading people by creating a political narrative around laws that were enacted decades ago.

Gupta said, “Congress should first answer why it is questioning a legal position created during its own governments. The Citizenship Act, 1955 and the Passport Act, 1967 were not brought by the BJP. These laws were framed decades ago, during the Congress era, and the same legal framework continues today.”

He said that the attempt to portray the issue as a new decision by the present government is nothing but political misinformation. “Congress ruled this country for decades. It made these laws, implemented these laws, and accepted these legal principles. But today, for political convenience, it is blaming the BJP for a system that was created under its own watch,” Gupta said.

Highlighting the legal distinction between citizenship and passports, Gupta said, “A passport is a travel document issued under the Passport Act. Citizenship is determined under the Citizenship Act. These are two separate legal matters. This is not a new interpretation; this has been the established position for years.”

Referring to judicial observations, Gupta said that courts have also maintained that a passport alone cannot be treated as conclusive proof of citizenship. “Even the judiciary has clarified this position. The Bombay High Court had stated in 2013 that possession of a passport by itself does not establish citizenship. Was that judgment also given by the BJP?” Gupta questioned.

Taking a direct swipe at Congress, Gupta said, “The problem is not with the law; the problem is with the politics. When Congress was in power, these laws were acceptable. Today, when the same laws are followed, Congress is creating confusion among the people.”

He added, “The Congress cannot escape responsibility for laws made during its own governments and then attack others for implementing the same legal framework. People of India understand this politics of double standards.”

Gupta further said that the opposition should stop spreading confusion and respect the constitutional and legal framework of the country. “The law has remained the same for decades. Only the political noise around it has changed,” he said.