'By 2030, only one document ...': Owaisi takes dig at BJP after MEA's 'proof of citizenship' remark

NEW DELHI: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday took a swipe at the Centre after the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said a passport is primarily a travel document and should not be treated as proof of citizenship.In a post on X, Owaisi wrote: "According to the govt, no document is conclusive proof of citizenship. By 2030, only one document will be proof of citizenship."

Along with the post, Owaisi shared an AI-generated image of a card labelled "Bharatiya Janata Party", suggesting it would become the only proof of citizenship.His remarks came a day after a senior MEA official, speaking at an event marking the 14th Passport Seva Divas, said that while a passport attests to the nationality of Indians abroad, it is not a document of citizenship.Responding to a query, officials clarified that a passport is primarily a travel document and should not be treated as proof of citizenship. The remarks triggered a debate on social media, with several users questioning what constitutes conclusive proof of Indian citizenship if passports, Aadhaar cards and voter identity cards are not considered sufficient.The clarification reiterates a legal position reflected in past court judgments but has gained attention amid the ongoing debate over citizenship during the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

While hearing the Bihar SIR case on August 12, 2025, a Supreme Court bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi had observed, "The use of Aadhaar while filing claims and objections would strictly be as proof of identity and not as evidence of Indian citizenship."Several users on X criticised the MEA's clarification. One user shared an image of an Indian passport showing nationality as "Indian" and asked, "What is this then??"Another wrote: "Passport is not a document of citizenship, Aadhar card is not a document of citizenship, Voter ID card is not a document of citizenship. Then what is??"The Press Information Bureau, in a question-and-answer document related to the National Register of Citizens released on December 20, 2019, had said: "Citizenship can be proved by submitting any documents related to date of birth and place of birth. However, a decision is yet to be taken on such acceptable documents."