Centre to consider Geelani’s plea, after he completes formalities

The government on Friday said it would consider the passport application of hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani only after he completes the formalities and indicated that it was not averse to approving it.

“If it comes to us after due formalities, we will think over it.... We have no objections,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh said.

On Thursday, the External Affairs Ministry had said the passport application of Geelani cannot be processed in its present form as it was incomplete as he had not submitted the passport fee, biometric details and photographs. The Home Ministry had said passport is the right of every Indian citizen and is issued by the Ministry of External Affairs after following a due process.

“In case an applicant applies for a passport, he should fulfil all formalities before his case is processed. As and when the matter is referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs, we will process the case on merit,” a Home Ministry spokesperson said.

J&K’s ruling coalition partners – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – are sharply divided over the Geelani passport issue.

The PDP has said it would approach the Centre for giving passport to Geelani on “humanitarian” <g data-gr-id="30">grounds,</g> while the BJP has said he should not be given the travel document till he “apologises” for his anti-national activities. Sources said Geelani and his family members want to travel to Jeddah and 

have applied for passports online. 

But he has not yet visited the regional passport office in Srinagar to give his biometric data and photograph. As per new rules, an applicant must visit the passport office in person to give biometric details and get a photo clicked.