The Press Club of India (PCI) expressed its shock at the deletion of the name of R. Rajagopal, former Editor of The Telegraph, from the voters’ list of West Bengal and urges the ECI , MEA restore the voter card of Mr. Rajagopal and passports of the two senior journalists,
The Press Club of India (PCI) expressed its shock at the deletion of the name of R. Rajagopal, former Editor of The Telegraph, from the voters’ list of West Bengal, which has reportedly led to non-renewal of his passport for over 100 days allegedly due to an ‘adverse’ report by the state police. Mr Raiagopal, therefore, also couldn’t attend his daughter’s wedding in the United States in spite of holding a valid visa of that country.
In a statement issued in New Delhi the Press Club of India said :
It is appalling that in the world’s largest democracy, the bureaucracy gets to decide who is a citizen and who is not.
If a respected senior editor and a well-known figure like Rajagopal is facing difficulties to prove his Indian citizenship in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) carried out in that State by the Election Commission of India (ECI), what hardships must lakhs of ordinary citizens must be enduring through that process is a significant question that emerges from this instance.
Additionally, it has also come to the notice of the PCI that the passport of another senior journalist and author, Samrat Choudhury, has been impounded earlier this month citing an adverse’ police verification report.
As per Choudhury, his passport was issued through Tatkal back in 2022.According to rules the police verification for a passport issued under Tatkal is typically carried out later.Choudhury said he has held an Indian passport since 1993, and his name is in the electoral rolls of Meghalaya where he was born.
No reason was cited for doubting his Indian citizenship status.
Choudhury said his passport was taken into the government’s ‘safe custody’ on the Passport Seva Divas.
PCI calls on the ECI and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to exercise prudence and common sense and restore the voter card of Mr. Rajagopal and passports of the two seniorjournalists, and also show compassion to all those who have suffered a similar unfortunate situation saud the signed state of PCI by its secretary General Mr. Afzal Imam.
