Truth Behind Sonia's Sacrifice

The President is said to have informed her that according to Section 5 of the Citizenship Act of 1955, she has no right to assume the office of the Prime Minister of India and that he was seeking the advice of the Supreme Court on this issue.

Section 5 of the Citizenship Act of 1955 clearly says the rights and privileges allowed to foreigners who become citizens by application (not by birth) will only be those as are granted to Indians in the country of the concerned person's origin (in this case Italy). Which means that since an Indian cannot be the PM of Italy, even if he is granted Italian citizenship, then Indian law says that an Italian who is granted Indian citizenship cannot be PM of India. Period. The Citizenship Act, 1955 is available for all to read at this link

The President reportedly told Sonia that he had to ascertain the legal position in this matter as there was no confirmation that all the rights and privileges granted to persons of Italian origin are reciprocated by Italy in the case of Indians who become citizens of that country.

Sonia is said to have decided not to take the risk after the President's briefing. It should also be noted that the President, in his letter on Monday, invited her only to discuss assuming the post of Prime Minister, and not to assume office.

That was the reason why Sonia made such a "huge sacrifice" after "listening to her inner voice." Just two days ago she did not refuse when her party elected her the Leader of her party. Thereafter she said that the leader of the single largest party should, in her opinion, be the next Prime Minister. And two days later suddenly an inner voice told her to make a tamasha of a sacrifice. Maybe the inner voice sounded like the booming APJ Abdul Kalam, a true Indian.