After a declaration by the Ministry of External Affairs recently that an Indian passport was primarily a travel document and not a conclusive proof of citizenship under the Passports Act, 1967, a fresh political debate has begun.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has questioned the statement, saying that it only created confusion for ordinary citizens, who considered passports as one of their most trusted identity documents.

Passports were issued after strict verification processes, making it a valid proof of citizenship.

“If a passport does not establish citizenship, then what does?” he asked. Tharoor also proposed legal changes to make one’s passport and Aadhaar a conclusive proof of Indian citizenship. Unless officially cancelled, both passport and Aadhaar should be treated as valid identity documents, he said. – editor@nrifocus.com