An RTI reply has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not need a citizenship certificate. This was after one Shubhankar Sarkar filed an RTI application seeking a copy of Modi’s citizenship certificate.
His question in the RTI application, according to journalist Seemi Pasha, read, “Please show the Citizenship Certificate of our Honourable Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi.”
The reply by one Praveen Kumar in the Prime Minister’s Office, read, “Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is a citizen of India by birth in terms of Section 3 of the The (sic) Citizenship Act, 1955 and as such the question of his having a citizenship certificate which is for citizenship by registration does not arise.”
If PM @narendramodi does not require to register his citizenship, as per Section 3 of the Citizenship Act 1955, then why should others?
Here is the PMO’s response to an RTI filed by Subhankar Sarkar (632/2020-PME) #CAA_NRC_NPR #DelhiRiot2020 #DoubleStandards pic.twitter.com/WydrnFMZt8— seemi pasha (@seemi_pasha) February 29, 2020
The RTI reply evoked strong reactions from Twitterati, who said that they too should be exempted from producing any citizenship documents in the future.
Below is the copy of the RTI reply regards the #citizenship certificate of @PMOIndia #India.
If @PMOIndia @narendramodi ji does not require to register his citizenship as per section 3 of #CitizenshipAmendmentAct 1955, THEN WHY SHOULD WE? pic.twitter.com/wMZ9T21SCE
— Netta D’Souza (@dnetta) February 29, 2020
PM does not require to register his citizenship as per the Sec 3 of the Citizenship Act 1955why should we?
I urge all to take a copy of this reply given by PMO for the RTI of Subhankar Sarkar(632/2020-PME)raised regard to Modi’s Certificate and refuse to show the papers when NPR pic.twitter.com/rK4Bne4tEp— Mohammed Nadeem #IndiaAgainstNRC_CAA_NPR (@NadeemA99550374) March 1, 2020
I urge everyone to take a copy of this reply given by Prime Minister’s Office for the RTI of Mr Subhankar Sarkar (632/2020-PME) raised regard to Mr Modi’s Citizenship Certificate and refuse to show the papers, when NPR Data Collectors visit you. pic.twitter.com/IrQJ78JF96
— Ahmed Alvi (@AhmedAl90674639) March 1, 2020
The issue of citizenship has become hugely controversial after the Modi government passed the Citizenship Amendment Act in December last year. The CAA provides automatic citizenship to non-Muslim immigrants living in India. Analysts say that the law will be used by the Narendra Modi government to declare millions of Muslims stateless when the National Register of Citizens is prepared and Muslims will be asked to prove their Indian citizenship.