The Union Home Ministry has cancelled the Indian citizenship of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) legislator Chennamaneni Ramesh.
The member of Telagana state legislative assembly from Vemulawada constitutency on Tuesday received a letter from the central ministry to this effect.
A joint secretary in the ministry issued order, which may be reviewed in 30 days. The TRS leader plans to seek a review of the decision.
The Home Ministry took the action following last week's direction of the Supreme Court to inquire into and determine the dual citizenship of TRS legislator Chennamaneni Ramesh within six weeks.
The apex court's order came on a petition filed by Adi Srinivas, who contested election against him as the Congress candidate.
Andhra Pradesh High Court had earlier set aside Ramesh's election on a petition by Srinivas, who alleged that Ramesh possessed citizenship of Germany.
Srinivas claimed that Ramesh had submitted fake documents, stating that he was in India for continuous one year.
The Supreme Court had stayed the High Court order and asked the Centre to inquire into Srinivas' complaint in six months. With the Home Ministry not addressing the issue even after one year, the petitioner again approached the apex court, which last week set the six week deadline.
The ruling party legislator maintains that he had surrendered his Indian passport and took German citizenship in 1993. However, in 2009, he applied for the Indian citizenship and was granted the same.
The Representation of People’s Act states that any person who is not an Indian citizen is not eligible to contest or vote in any election.
However, speaking to Telangana Today, Ramesh said that he would utilize the 30-day review period against the ‘negative decision’ of cancelling his citizenship.
“I will utilize this 30-day period and file a review petition at the secretary level. The crux of the issue is the rule stating that the person has to reside in India for 365 days to be eligible for citizenship. The word ‘continuous stay’ was added to the rule along with other changes on February 27, 2009, after I had got my citizenship,” he told Telangana Today.
IANS inputs