Passport office official insults interfaith couple, suggests for changing religion, gets transferred

A passport office official in Lucknow reportedly rejected to renew the passport of a couple just because they belonged to inter-faiths. The couple has accused the passport official of humiliating them.

The couple then apprised External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj of their ordeal and requested her to interfere. According to media reports after the complaint having been made, the passport office official has been transferred. This also led to issuance of a show cause notice to the passport official.

News agency ANI reported the couple’s passport which had been stalled has been renewed as of today.

The passport official Vikas Mishra reportedly on Wednesday had asked Anas Siddiqui to convert to Hinduism if he wanted to get his passport renewed.

Anas is married to Hindu woman Tanvi Seth and has a six year old daughter.

Tanvi had on Wednesday tweeted to Sushma Swaraj complaining that she was insulted by Mr Vikas Mishra at Lucknow passport office at Ratan Square for the reason because she was married to a Muslim and that she had not changed her name ever.

https://twitter.com/tanvianas/status/1009353189852958720

“He told Anas to convert to Hinduism for his passport to be renewed. This is a case of moral policing and religious prejudice. I was made to feel insulted; I broke down,” Tanvi said in a tweet addressed to Sushma Swaraj.

She also said that she was asked to change her name as is the duty of all girls after marriage. In addition, her husband Anas was asked to convert to Hinduism and take ‘Pheras’ if he wanted his passport renewed, Tanvi alleged.

Published on June 21, 2018 at 12:30 IST

By EP Web Desk