The Indian National Congress on Thursday, 25 June sharply criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) declared that a passport has never been proof of citizenship — with Congress leaders warning that such a statement risks creating widespread 'confusion' among ordinary citizens.

The controversy erupted after an MEA official stated at a Passport Seva Divas event on Wednesday that a passport should primarily be understood as a travel document, not a citizenship credential.

What Congress Leaders Said

Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid argued that the Passport Act itself creates an implicit link between the document and citizenship. 'One thing is very clear in the Passport Act: a passport can be denied if a person is not a citizen. If non-citizenship is a ground for refusing a passport, then the issuance of a passport must have some relevance to citizenship as well,' he said.

Khurshid acknowledged that formal citizenship determination falls under the Citizenship Act, but maintained that reading both laws together, a passport 'must carry some significance.' He added: 'I do not think an ordinary person would easily understand the distinction.'

He also questioned the timing of the government's statement, saying: 'The Union government should explain why this clarification is being issued now and why it is being stated formally after so many years.'

Congress MP Raises NRC Concern

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi called on the MEA to go further and clarify whether the government has ever issued passports to non-Indian nationals. 'As per the Passport Act, a passport is issued to bonafide Indian citizens only and therefore it is a proof of Indian citizenship — but if it is not, then they should clarify,' he said.

Gogoi drew on his experience observing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process in Assam, highlighting the difficulties common people faced in proving their citizenship. He noted a pattern where documents — voter ID, PAN card, Aadhaar, and now passport — are being progressively disqualified as citizenship proofs. 'Maybe the Union government feels that only if you are listed in the NRC, that is a proof of citizenship,' he told reporters.

MLA Calls Statement Unnecessary and Confusing

Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar argued that several legal documents, including a passport, Aadhaar card, and voter ID, are collectively recognised as means to establish citizenship — and that a passport, by its very nature, is issued only to a citizen. 'I do not understand why such statements are being made, why there is so much discussion around it, or why objections are being raised,' he said.

Wadettiwar was unequivocal in his assessment: 'All this only creates confusion among people and contributes to misunderstanding.'

Why the Timing Matters

The MEA's statement comes amid an ongoing national conversation around citizenship documentation, particularly in the context of the NRC in Assam and broader debates over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Critics argue that progressively narrowing the list of valid citizenship proofs places a disproportionate burden on marginalised and rural populations who may lack access to formal records.

The Centre has not yet issued a formal follow-up clarification. How the government responds — and whether it addresses the legal interplay between the Passport Act and the Citizenship Act — is likely to shape the next phase of this debate.