Dismissing BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's statement on Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's citizenship as "false", the opposition party on Wednesday reiterated that Rahul held Indian citizenship from day one.
"Rahul Gandhi has held Indian citizenship and Indian passport from day one. You (BJP) have the entire machinery (at your disposal) and you should be able to put out a single proof and not these straws in the winds by a person like Dr. (Subramanian) Swamy. If you are the government, you should have produced some material rather than relying on Dr. Swamy's allegations which are false," said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
Swamy said on November 16 that Rahul had declared himself to be a British citizen in the registration papers of a private company in London.
Allegations were levelled that the UK-based company - now dissolved - in its annual return for 2005 and 2006 and in its dissolution application in 2009 told the British company law authorities that Rahul's nationality was British and also that he had not disclosed all details about this particular company to Indian authorities.
"The certificate of incorporation of the company is with us. Perhaps it was given as an annexure to our November 16 statement. It clearly states that Rahul Gandhi is an Indian national. There is no question of any account at Zurich. There is no question of detention. These are laughable things and we condemn them with the contempt they deserve," the Congress leader said.
Singhvi said: "Rahul Gandhi - from birth till today - has never held a non-Indian passport and non-Indian citizenship. It has been said yesterday (Tuesday) that there is a typographical error. The point is not that. Does the fact that my statement that he has never been a citizen elsewhere change because of some return filed here or there which has been ascribed to an error. Will it change your nationality? BJP is contradicting Dr. Swamy at every forum," he said.