‘No Greater Crisis’: Oppn Attacks Centre After MEA Says Passport Not A Proof of Citizenship

Last Updated:June 25, 2026, 00:24 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

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."

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray also criticised the MEA’s clarification, raising questions about the passport issuance process.

In a post on X, he said, “If the MEA believes Passport is not a document of citizenship: 1) What do the police verify before granting a passport? 2) Does our country give passports as travel documents to non Indians as well? 3) Wouldn’t this announcement create doubts in the minds of other countries, of whether non Indians get Indian Passports as a travel document? Beyond its very confused foreign policy, how much more absurd can the MEA become?"

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal questioned what document would then serve as proof of Indian citizenship. “Which document then is proof of citizenship?" he wrote on X.

What MEA Said About The Indian Passport?

During a detailed briefing on India’s expanding passport and mobility ecosystem, the MEA said that while passports are issued to Indian citizens, their primary purpose is to facilitate international travel and establish identity abroad.

Also Read: ‘So What Proves I’m Indian?’: Internet Asks As MEA Says Passport Is Travel Document, Not Citizenship Proof

The MEA maintained that an Indian passport is issued to Indian citizens but is intended primarily as a travel document rather than conclusive proof of citizenship.

The clarification was made as part of a broader presentation on reforms aimed at making passports more accessible, secure and globally accepted, while facilitating overseas employment and international travel for millions of Indians.

About the Author

Prisha Vibhavari

Prisha is the Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than 10 years of experience in national and international news. She specialises in editorial leadership, sharp news judgment, and high-impact st...Read More

News india ‘No Greater Crisis’: Oppn Attacks Centre After MEA Says Passport Not A Proof of Citizenship

Read More