Kerala CM Urges West Bengal Counterpart to Intervene in Journalist's Passport Renewal Issue

Kerala Chief Minister's Urgent Request

Kerala's Chief Minister, V.D. Satheesan, has reached out to West Bengal's Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, requesting immediate intervention regarding the passport renewal of R. Rajagopal, a former editor of 'The Telegraph'. Reports indicate that Rajagopal's application is stalled due to a negative police verification report, which arose from his name being removed from the voter list. In a letter dated June 29, Satheesan highlighted that the renewal process is hindered by this negative verification from Kolkata police. He noted that the adverse report is based on the removal of Rajagopal's name from the voter list under a Special Intensive Review (SIR). While the electoral matter is being pursued through the appropriate appeal process, the delay in passport renewal is attributed to the police report. Satheesan urged Adhikari to look into this matter promptly, providing Rajagopal's address at Flat 3A, 12 Dover Road, Kolkata, along with the file number for the passport renewal application.

Recognizing a Distinguished Journalist

In his correspondence, Satheesan referred to Rajagopal as a distinguished journalist who has been active in Kolkata for over three decades. The letter emphasized Rajagopal's illustrious career in journalism, which includes his role as editor of 'The Telegraph'. Additionally, Satheesan mentioned that Rajagopal is the son of Professor V. Ramadas, who served as the state secretary of the Gandhi Memorial Fund in Kerala and was highly respected for his public service. The Chief Minister also included Rajagopal's contact information in the letter, urging the West Bengal Chief Minister to address this issue as soon as possible.

Support from Shashi Tharoor

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed his support for Satheesan's intervention, stating that cases like Rajagopal's require backing from all political parties. Sharing the Chief Minister's letter on social media, Tharoor described it as a significant initiative from one Chief Minister to another. He acknowledged that the likely response would be that this is a matter for the central government, beyond state jurisdiction. However, he emphasized that serious miscarriages of justice should unite all democratic Indians in support of the victims to seek a prompt resolution. Tharoor also pointed out that Rajagopal's situation is not an isolated incident, noting that similar cases, often stemming from a lack of understanding by SIR officials, continue to cause unnecessary embarrassment for the government.