Do You Need to Be a Hindu to Get Passport in India? Lucknow Passport Seva Kendra Asks Muslim Husband to Convert Into Hinduism
The couple also have a six-year old daughter.
Lucknow, June 21: In a shocking case of religious discrimination and moral policing, a married couple Tanvi Seth and her husband Anas Siddiqui faced harassment at the Passport Seva Kendra at Ratan Square in Lucknow on Wednesday. While Tanvi had applied for a new passport, Anas wanted to renew his passport. The woman chose to narrate her ordeal in a series of a tweet, marked to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
She mentioned that Mr Vikas Mishra refused to grant her a passport because she was married to a Muslim and has not changed her surname. She was spoken rudely, and even insulted in front of others. The matter didn't end here because her husband was also not granted a new passport, and it was put on hold. The officer in question told Anas to convert to Hinduism and 'take pheras' for his passport to be renewed.
Check out Tanvi's tweets
In her tweets Tanvi shared, "I have never felt so insulted in the last 12 years of my marriage with my husband. It is my personal choice to choose a name I want to after marriage. This is our family matter and last thing I expected to hear at the passport office was it is your duty to change your name after marriage."
According to a Times of India report, Regional Passport Officer Peeyush Verma has been quoted saying, "The incident has happened and the couple will be coming to the office in Gomtinagar in Lucknow on Thursday. I will look into the matter and take appropriate action.” The couple also have a six-year old daughter.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 21, 2018 09:50 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).