VIJAYAWADA : YSRCP leader and former legislator Adusumilli Jayaprakash said he would approach court seeking prosecution of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for residing in the country for nearly a decade between 1973 and 1983 "without applying for citizenship". He told reporters that Sonia Gandhi did not secure citizenship till 1983 despite becoming eligible for securing Indian nationality. He said Sonia married Rajiv Gandhi in 1968 and began living in India. with then Prime Minister's family.

As per Section 5 of Citizenship Act, 1955, anyone who resides in India with valid permission for about eight years would become eligible to apply for citizenship. The Act was amended in 1988 making the residential tenure to 13 years from previous eight years. Since Sonia married Rajiv before the amendment of the Act, she became eligible for the citizenship in 1973.tnn However, she resided in India without citizenship till 1983, which, according to Jayaprakash, was illegal.

Prior to getting citizenship, Sonia's application for enrolment as voter was rejected in 1982 for filing false affidavit, he alleged. He said he would file a petition seeking prosecution of Sonia Gandhi on two grounds - illegally residing in India and filing false affidavit. He alleged that Sonia Gandhi had decided to bifurcate the state only to split the country and finally weaken the sovereignty of the nation.

