Ajax call-request.xhr? = false Rails 3

I have the following tag in a view:-

<%= form_tag url_for({:controller => params[:area], :action
=> :search, :area => params[:area] }), :method => :get, :remote =>
true do %>
<%= label_tag(:query, “Search for:”) %>
<%= text_field_tag(“query”, params[:query], :autocomplete =>
“off”, :onKeyPress=>“return disableEnterKey(event)”) %>
<%= submit_tag(“Search”, :name => nil, ) %>

On reaching the controller in question request.xhr? is = to false

Anyone has any ideas why? or what am I doing wrong.

I have prototype.js and rails.js files loaded in my layout files.