Bengaluru, October 9 (Daily Kiran) : A retired IPS officer, Bhaskar Rao, has written to the Union Home Secretary requesting an investigation into the citizenship and visa status of YouTuber Dhruv Rathee. This request follows Rathee’s participation in a protest against the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of the voter list held at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on October 8.
In his letter, Rao noted that Rathee was present at the demonstration alongside actor-activist Prakash Raj and others. During the protest, Rathee criticized the Election Commission, accusing it of having “zero transparency and zero accountability” in the SIR process.
Rao expressed concerns regarding Rathee’s alleged German citizenship, prompting him to request a review of Rathee’s passport, visa category, purpose of entry into India, authorized duration of stay, and compliance with immigration laws. He also inquired whether Rathee possesses an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card or any other status, questioning the legality of his involvement in a politically organized protest related to India’s electoral process.
On October 8, Rathee arrived in Bengaluru to join the demonstration organized by the “Cockroach Public Party” (CJP) and other civic groups opposing the SIR and the removal of names from the voter list. Prakash Raj referred to Rathee as a “surprise guest” at the event, having invited him to the stage.
Protests against the Election Commission are ongoing across various parts of the country, leading to heightened security measures in areas like Parliament Street and Jantar Mantar in the capital, Delhi. Opposition parties allege that a significant number of eligible voters have been removed from the list during the special review, raising questions about the fairness of the electoral process.
Leave a Comment