NEW DELHI: With Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship coming in for scrutiny through a notice from Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, headed by BJP veteran L K Advani, Congress leaders rushed to his defence calling the move — the question whether he’s a British citizen as allegedly declared in a company document of 2003 or an Indian — motivated diversion from real pressing issues on Monday.
In the face of the renewed heat over the citizenship — or dual citizenship — row, Rahul himself appeared unfazed, flippantly throwing a “we’ll deal with it” line to the media chasing the news, outside Parliament. He was, however, quick to throw a challenge as well. The PM, he accused, was “indulging in mudslinging through his cronies” and “let the government probe the allegations” against him and send him to jail if found guilty, he dared.
Subramanian Swamy, the originator of the row about Rahul’s citizenship, alleged the documents on which he based his complaint were “original” and bore the Congress leader’s signature.