I'm Indian, Rahul Gandhi tells panel

NEW DELHI: In his reply to a notice by the ethics committee of the Lok Sabha on allegations of “dual citizenship“, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi questioned the panel's decision to take cognizance of a “complaint that is not in order“.

Rahul has challenged BJP member Subramanian Swamy to make public his British passport number and other relevant documents. Responding to the panel headed by BJP veteran L K Advani, Rahul said the complaint had “wantonly misled“ it on the issue. “I am surprised that the committee of ethics has chosen to take cognizance of a complaint that is not in order.This is an endeavour to malign my good name. I have never at any stage sought or ac quired British citizenship.My identity is that of an Indian,“ Rahul said in his reply, according to a PTI report.

According to sources, Rahul demanded that the complainant produce evidence to substantiate his allegation and file an affidavit in support of his contention. “The documents on which he re lies in support of his conten tion nowhere mention that I have ever declared myself as a British citizen,“ he said.

Noting that citizenship was a matter of fact, he said whether he ever sought or ac quired British citizenship would be part of the officia documents with the British Home Office. “This fact could have been ascertained from the source before pressing the complaint,“ he said. “I urge Swamy for placing on record any proof of Rahul Gandhi being a British citizen by disclosing his alleged British passport number and relevant documents,“ Rahul was quoted by sources to have said in his response to the notice.