Citizenship row: Telangana high court extends relief to TRS MLA

HYDERABAD: TRS MLA Chennamaneni Ramesh, whose citizenship was cancelled by the Union ministry of home affairs on November 20, got a fresh relief on Monday when the Telangana HC extended the stay on the Centre’s decision by eight weeks.
Justice Challa Kodanda Ram gave this interim directive while hearing a petition by the MLA, who represents Vemulawada in the assembly, against the Centre’s decision.
When the counsel of Aadi Srinivas, Ramesh’s rival in the constituency, alleged that Ramesh still held German citizenship during the hearing, the latter’s counsel, Y Rama Rao, denied the claims and said that his client had given it up after acquiring the Indian citizenship. The judge posted the case to four weeks and sought a counter from Srinivas.
MHA had cancelled the citizenship of Ramesh for concealing facts about his visits abroad during the 12-month period preceding his application seeking Indian citizenship. It also pointed out that if action was not taken against the MLA, many others could obtain Indian citizenship by misleading the government.