If a Passport Does Not Certify Citizenship, Then What Document Will?

June 26, Kathmandu – Indian National Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has raised serious questions regarding the government’s recent stance on the passport controversy. Commenting on a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, which stated that “an Indian passport primarily serves as a travel document and does not act as final proof of citizenship,” Tharoor questioned which document, then, would serve to certify citizenship if not the passport.

In a statement shared on the social media platform X, MP Tharoor noted that the ministry’s declaration has created confusion among the public and sparked extensive political debate. While the government clarified that this is not a new rule but an old legal provision under Section 20 of the Passport Act, 1967, Tharoor argued that this legal distinction does not practically impact ordinary citizens.

Recalling that passports have long been recognized as the most reliable form of identification, Tharoor pointed out that citizens undergo rigorous procedures such as police verification and the submission of numerous documents to obtain a passport. He criticized the government’s contradictory approach of stating that passports are issued only after sufficient proof of citizenship is provided, but subsequently asserting that passports should not be regarded as the ultimate proof of citizenship.

Tharoor further highlighted that the Supreme Court of India has already clarified that the Aadhaar card serves merely as a proof of identity and residence, and not as proof of citizenship. In this context, he expressed concern that millions of Indian citizens may be at risk of legally lacking definitive proof of their citizenship despite possessing modern documents. He urged the government to amend the law so that unless passports and Aadhaar cards are invalidated, both documents should be recognized as valid and final proof of Indian citizenship.