We, the undersigned journalist organizations, are dismayed and anguished at the victimization and harassment of R.Rajagopal, a senior journalist and former editor of The Telegraph by an insensitive electoral apparatus and an arbitrary law and order bureaucracy.
- Rajagopal was shocked when his application for renewal of his passport was rejected on the grounds of his name having featured in ‘under adjudication list’ during the highly controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls carried out in West Bengal.
Despite having submitted his matriculation certificate- one of the 11 documents mandated by the Supreme Court, his name was excluded. His appeal is now pending disposal by the special tribunal. Consequently he could not cast his vote in the recent Assembly elections. Due to the rejection of his passport renewal, he was unable to travel to the United States for his daughter’s marriage. This was a rude shock since he had applied for the passport with all necessary documents nearly three months back.
Rajagopalan being a resident for 30 years in the Ballygunge police station area, the passport renewal could have easily been done based on previous records that were all in order. Instead it was linked to a police verification that gave an adverse report based on his ‘deleted’ status as a voter.
A voter I-card or being on the electoral rolls is not a mandatory requirement for either a new passport or renewal of an existing passport. Neither is it a proof of citizenship. Being on the deleted list of the electoral roll is not grounds to deprive any citizen of legitimate entitlements.
As a conscientious journalist and citizen. Rajagopal continues to speak up for the lakhs of disenfranchised voters, aware that the consequences for them are far graver and insidious.
The Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC) and Press Association stand staunchly in support and solidarity with him. We reaffirm our stand for a media that is free, ethical and unafraid to call out instances of political expediency that have grave implications for the vast majority and for our democracy.
Sujata Raghavan (President, IWPC)
C.K. Nayak (President, Press Association)
Saroj Dhuliya (General Secretary, IWPC)