Bangalore: Noted journalist A Surya Prakash today (Apr 12, 2004) said Italian law embraces Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadhra as its "citizens" irrespective of whether they consider it so or not.

"Italian citizenship is based on the principle of birth (ius sanguinis), according to which, those who are born from an Italian mother or father are considered as Italians, irrespective of the place of birth," Prakash, quoting a letter by the Italian embassy on Italian citizenship said.

Participating in a discussion on "Issues of foreign origin, Sonia under scrutiny" organised by the Citizens Awareness Forum this evening, he said, according to Italian law, Congress president Sonia Gandhi's children are accepted as citizens of Italy.

"Irrespective of whether they consider it or not, Italy embraces them (Rahul and Priyanka) as citizens," Prakash who has edited the book "Sonia Under Scrutiny" released in Delhi last week said.

"The Italian citizenship is acquired by birth, by naturalisation and by reacquiring surrendered citizenship," he said, quoting the letter, which cited a bill published in the official Italian State bulletin in 1992.