Rahul Gandhi served notice by Lok Sabha panel on ‘dual nationality’ issue

The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee has served notice on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on his alleged dual nationality issue, BJP MP Arjun Ram Meghwal said on Monday. The Committee is headed by senior BJP leader L.K. Advani.

Meghwal told reporters that the ethics committee had served Rahul Gandhi a notice and would act on the matter only after a reply from the Congress member. “Rahul Gandhi has been issued notice to seek his response on why he declared himself a British citizen. The complaint was received by the Speaker (Sumitra Mahajan) and she has forwarded the complaint to the ethics committee,” said Meghwal, who is a member of the committee.

The Congress, in its response, said Rahul Gandhi’s Indian nationality can never be questioned. “The matters being examined by a parliamentary panel or any decision on this should be considered confidential. But Rahul Gandhi need not prove his credentials as an Indian,” said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Surjewala said the government was trying to malign the image of the Congress and counselled that the government should instead focus on bringing back to the country the likes of liquor baron Vijay Mallya.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, however, said the Congress needs to clarify on the matter.

The 15-member committee headed by Advani includes Arjun Meghwal, Kariya Munda (both BJP), B. Mahtab (Biju Janata Dal), Ninong Ering (Congress) and Akshay Yadav (Samajwadi Party).