Applying For Passport In Uttarakhand? Police To Scrutinize 'Anti-National Activities' Before Giving Clearance

Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar on Thursday said that the online behaviour of passport applicants needs to be scrutinised for preventing growing misuse of social media platforms. Read on.

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Dehradun: For those planning on having a passport made in Uttarakhand, the police seems to have put up a new condition as they have decided to scrutinise social media behaviour of applicants before giving clearance for the same. 
Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar on Thursday said that online behaviour of passport applicants needs to be scrutinised for preventing growing misuse of social media platforms.

In this direction, Uttarakhand Police have decided to examine social media behaviour for passport applicants in the verification process at a meeting chaired by the Director-General of Police.

Kumar justified the measure saying that it is needed to stop growing misuse of social media platforms in causing trouble. The DGP denied introducing anything "new or drastic" adding that he spoke in favour of enforcing a clause already present in the passport law.

"There is a clause in the passport law not to issue the document to anyone indulging in anti-national activities. I have only spoken in favour of its enforcement," Kumar said. "As a police officer I stand against anything that falls into the category of anti-national activities as defined by our Constitution," he said.

Responding to a question, he also admitted that the way social media was used to "escalate tension" during the R-day tractor parade in Delhi may have acted as a catalyst in taking the decision.

"Deterrents like these are necessary to discourage the growing misuse of social media and send a message to users to be more responsible," he said.

Earlier, police only checked whether the passport applicant had any FIRs lodged against him/her.

No Govt Job In Bihar For Those Engaging In 'Law & Order Situation'

Similarly, in Bihar a decision has been taken to discourage people from taking part in violent protest as in a new directive, it has been stated that such individuals will not be eligible for a government job and contracts. The police can list the same in an individual's certificate of conduct.

"If a person is involved in any criminal act by engaging in ant law and order situation, protests, road jams and is charged by the police for this, then specific mention of this will be made in the character verification report by the police," DGP SK Singhal said in the directive.

"Such people have to be prepared for serious consequences because they will not be able to get a government job or apply for government tenders," the official letter added.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav criticised the NDA government asking why the "poor chief minister with 40 seats is so scared?"

"Nitish Kumar, who is challenging Mussolini and Hitler, says that if someone used his democratic right to protest against the power system, then you will not get a job. Meaning they will not even give jobs and will not let someone protest," Tejashwi tweeted.