MEA Passport Row: Opposition parties launched an all out attack at the Centre after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a clarification on Indian passport saying that it is a travel document
and should not be treated as a proof of citizenship.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi in a post on X took a swipe at the Centre and said, “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, he shared an AI-generated image of a card labelled “Bharatiya Janata Party”, suggesting that BJP membership would become the only proof of citizenship.
According to the govt, no document is conclusive proof of citizenship. By 2030, only one document will be proof of citizenship: https://t.co/9aCK7NAwDq pic.twitter.com/4BtDT8sY8E
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) June 25, 2026
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also took an aim at the government and alleged that the only proof of Indian citizenship today was being “both Hindu and a BJP voter”.
It would seem that the only proof of Indian citizenship today is to be both Hindu and a BJP voter. Nothing else will do. pic.twitter.com/8lbEohZkAa
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) June 24, 2026
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal also questioned the government’s position. In a post on X, he asked which document serves as proof of citizenship if passports are not considered conclusive evidence, and linked the issue to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
“MEA June 24, 2026 : “A passport is a travel document, and not a document of citizenship. Which document then is proof of citizenship? BLO can doubt my citizenship. Deprive me of my vote. Result- BJP wins the election. Over to Supreme Court!”
MEA
June 24, 2026 :“A passport is a travel document, and not a document of citizenship.”
Which document then is proof of citizenship?
BLO can doubt my citizenship
Deprive me of my voteResult
BJP wins the election
Over to Supreme Court !
— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) June 24, 2026
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray similarly criticised the clarification and raised questions about the passport issuance process.
“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?,” Thackeray said in a post on X.
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,… pic.twitter.com/p3ebg90A3C
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) June 24, 2026
The debate also spilled onto social media, where several users questioned what constitutes definitive proof of citizenship if passports, Aadhaar cards and voter identity cards are not considered sufficient on their own.
BJP Clarifies MEA’s Stance
Defending the government’s stand, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya said the MEA had merely reiterated a long-settled legal position and had not announced any new policy.
Malviya said courts have repeatedly held that a passport is not conclusive proof of citizenship and noted that citizenship is determined under the Citizenship Act, 1955, based on eligibility and supporting records rather than any single document.
He added that citizenship can be established through a combination of documents, including birth certificates, parents’ citizenship records where applicable, school records, electoral roll entries, government service records, land and residence records, passports and other official records.
What MEA Said?
The MEA clarified that the passport is a travel document, while highlighting measures incorporated into new chip-based e-passports, such as biometric data, to boost global acceptance and reduce the risk of fraud.
The clarification was issued on Tuesday, on the occasion of Passport Seva Divas. The officials said the passport remains a travel document, and not a document of citizenship, as it attests the nationality of Indians when they are abroad. “A passport is issued after a lot of due diligence, and it is based on documents from several government agencies,” an official said.
