Govt questions Anand’s Indian citizenship

World chess champion Viswanathan Anand may have earned India laurels across the globe, but the government isn’t convinced that he is an Indian citizen. The world’s best chess player was denied an honorary doctorate he was to have received on Monday, because the government is confused over whether Anand is an Indian or Spanish citizen.
The University of Hyderabad decided to award Anand honorary doctorate in 2009. But the university only formally forwarded the proposal to the Human Resource Development Ministry.
When the HRD Ministry twice prompted the university with these queries, it was informed that Anand – who lives with his wife in Spain – is a Spanish citizen. But it still did not inform the Ministry that it needed the approval urgently as the awards ceremony was to be held on Monday.
When asked about the same from Anand’s wife Aruna told, ‘I do not understand from where the confusion on Anand’s citizenship comes from. Anand is and has always been a citizen of India.’
University sources said all relevant documents were forwarded to the ministry, which was expected to approve them and send them to President Pratibha Patil, who holds the official title of Visitor at the University of Hyderabad.