Rahul Gandhi issued ordinary passport, all set for US visit

Rahul Gandhi gets new passport, set to travel to US today

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi received a new ordinary passport on May 28, two days after a Delhi court gave its clearance, according to PTI's report.

Gandhi, who had applied for an ordinary passport after surrendering the old diplomatic passport issued to him when he was a member of parliament, is set to travel to San Francisco in the United States on May 29 evening on a three-city tour.

Also Read: Delhi court grants NOC to Rahul Gandhi to get passport for 3 years

Passport Woes
The Congress leader was disqualified as an Member of Parliament in March earlier this year following his conviction and two-year sentence by a Gujarat court in a defamation case over his Modi surname remark.

The sources told  news agency PTI that the passport office had assured Gandhi in the morning that the passport would be issued to him on May 28 and he got it in the afternoon.

The Congress leader had moved a Delhi court which on Friday granted the no-objection certificate to Gandhi for the issuance of an 'ordinary passport' for three years instead of 10, the period for which it is normally issued, following an objection by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy who is the complainant in the National Herald case. Gandhi is an accused in the case.

The court, while giving clearance for issuing the passport, noted that the National Herald case was pending at the stage of cross-examination of the complainant in pre-charge evidence and Gandhi has been regularly appearing either in person or through his counsel and has not hampered or delayed the proceedings.

An ordinary passport that is generally issued to adults is valid for 10 years.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi’s barb at inauguration of new Parliament building: ‘treating it like coronation’

RaGa's US Visit
Rahul Gandhi will commence his US visit with a trip to San Francisco where he is scheduled to interact with students at the Stanford University. The Congress leader will also address a press conference and have meetings with lawmakers and think tanks in Washington DC, PTI reported.

Gandhi is also likely to address the Indian diaspora and interact with Wall Street executives and university students during his week-long tour of the USA.

The politician will conclude his trip with a public gathering in New York on June 4. The interaction is slated to take place at the Javits Center in New York.

Wayanad SeatOn March 24, the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala was declared vacant after former MP Rahul Gandhi  was disqualified following his conviction.

The Congress leader's sentence has been suspended, pending appeal.

(With inputs from PTI)