New Delhi: Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has raised objections over issuing an Indian passport to separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the Ministry of Home Affairs has said that passport is the right of every Indian citizen.
"Passport is the right of every Indian citizen and is issued by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) after following due process. As and when the matter is referred to MHA we will proceed on merit," the MHA said.
According to sources, Geelani is yet to complete his passport application. He has not yet provided his biometric details and photograph. His file will reach the Centre only once the formalities are completed.
The separatist leader has applied for a passport as he wants to travel to Saudi Arabia to visit his ailing daughter.
The BJP, which is part of the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir has said that a passport should be issued to him only after he apologises for the anti-India remarks that he has made in the last 25 years.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is the other coalition partner, has said that the passport should be issued to him as it is a humanitarian issue.
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