TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva has filed his documents with the Union Home Ministry probing into the question of his citizenship.
The Benaulim MLA, who has returned to Goa from Delhi, said he has submitted all documents at his disposal to prove that he is an Indian Citizen. “I have filed a set of documents with the state government as well the Union Home Ministry which had asked for the documents”, he told Herald on the sidelines of the function held at the Ravindra bhavan to distribute sanction orders for pensions for the seafarers and their widows.
Asserting that he is an Indian citizen and has not applied for a Portuguese Passport, Caitu exuded confidence that he would come out clear in the respect of the ongoing probe.
The Home department had asked for a para-wise reply from the Benaulim MLA after a resident of Navangully-Varca John Fernandes had in January last filed the petition against him for determination of his citizenship under the Indian Citizenship Act.
Fernandes had filed the petition against Caitu on grounds that the Benaulim MLA is no more an Indian national after allegedly acquiring Portuguese citizenship.
Though the Benaulim is engaged in a legal battle with his bête noire Valanka Alemao filing a disqualification petition in the high court against him on the question of citizenship, sources say that the Union Home Ministry is the authority under section 9 of the Indian Citizenship Act to decide the question of citizenship and nationality.
