NEW DELHI: A day after opposition members in Lok Sabha questioned why ‘lotus’ was being printed on new passports, the government on Thursday clarified that it is part of the enhanced security features meant to identify fake passports and that other national symbols will be used “on rotation” for the same purpose.

Asked about the issue, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, “This symbol is our national flower and is part of the enhanced security features to identify fake passports”.

These security features have been introduced as part of the (ICAO) guidelines, he said.

“Apart from the lotus, other national symbols will be used on rotation. Right now it is lotus and then next month there will be something else. These are symbols connected with India such as national flower or national animal,” he added.

M K Raghavan of Congress had raised the issue of lotus being printed on new passports in Kozhikode in Kerala during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha on Wednesday. He alleged this was “further saffronisation” with lotus being the election symbol of BJP.

