Geelani calls himself Indian in passport form

New Delhi, June 5: Syed Ali Shah Geelani the Kashmir separatist has referred to himself as an Indian in the passport form. Geelani who filled up his passport application form has stated his nationality to be Indian. However outside the passport office, he was quick to tell the media that he is not an Indian by birth.

The separatist leader had sought a passport to visit his daughter. He said that his daughter Farhat Geelani is ailing and hence needed to visit her in Saudi Arabia. A major controversy had broken out following his request for a passport with several persons telling him to first prove his loyalty to India.

Geelani who filled up his passport form a while ago in Srinagar mentions on the form that he is an Indian national. The man who has been accused of being a puppet of Pakistan had no choice but to write Indian on his passport. The passport is being issued by the government of India and hence there was no other option for him to call himself an Indian.

Now with his passport form filled up, it will be scrutinized. The scrutiny would involve a host of checks and would also see if he has any pending criminal cases against him.

Geelani had been given a tatkal or temporary passport a few years back. The government would also take into account whether he had violated the laws or rules when he visited a foreign land with the tatkal passport.

The controversy over Geelani's passport:

When Geelani had sought a passoport, the BJP had told him to prove his nationality and loyalty towards India first. First prove your loyalty and then fly out the BJP had said.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh however said that Geelani can fly out and the government has no objections to it. The passport would be considered after due formalities, the Home Minister had said.

OneIndia News