RaGa Gets Assent From Delhi Court To Obtain ‘Ordinary Passport’ For 3 Years; BJP leader argued ‘right time to travel…’

A Delhi court on Friday granted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi a no objection certificate (NOC) for the issuance of an “ordinary passport” for three years.

“In part I am allowing its application. Not for 10 years, but for three years,” the judge told Gandhi’s lawyer. Gandhi had moved the court after he handed over his diplomatic passport following his disqualification from parliament.

The move came after the Congress leader was convicted in a criminal defamation case by a Surat court for his comment on the surname “Modi”.

BJP senior leader Subramanian Swamy opposed the petition filed by Gandhi, saying if the former MP is allowed to travel abroad, it could hamper the ongoing investigation. The former head of Congress is accused in the National Herald case in which Swamy is the whistleblower.

Gandhi applied for a new passport for his next visit to the United States on June 4, where he is expected to address a public rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. His week-long will conclude with a talk at Stanford University. It will be the first public manifestation of him in the United States.

(details to follow)