New Delhi, June 29: Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan wrote to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday, requesting immediate intervention regarding the passport renewal issue of senior journalist R. Rajagopal. The Chief Minister’s letter addresses the denial of Rajagopal’s passport renewal due to a negative police verification report from Kolkata.
In a post on the social media platform X, Satheesan stated, “I have written to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, urging him to intervene promptly in the case of renowned journalist R. Rajagopal’s passport renewal denial.”
According to reports, the Kolkata police’s negative verification report has stalled the renewal process. Satheesan expressed hope for a fair investigation and resolution of the matter.
In his letter, the Chief Minister noted that Rajagopal’s passport renewal application was halted due to a poor verification report from the Kolkata police. He explained that this adverse report is based on the removal of Rajagopal’s name from the voter list under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, while the election-related issues are being addressed through the proper appeal process. It has been indicated that the delay in the passport renewal is due to the police report.
Rajagopal Ramdas is a distinguished journalist who has resided in Kolkata for over three decades. His illustrious career includes serving as the editor of The Telegraph. He is also the son of Professor V. Ramdas, who was highly respected for his public service as the state secretary of the Gandhi Memorial Fund in Kerala. Given these circumstances, Satheesan requested that this matter be expedited.
On the other hand, Congress leader Supriya Srinate criticized the situation in a post on X, stating that the senior journalist has paid a heavy price for his fearless journalism and demand for accountability. Following the removal of his name during the flawed SIR process in West Bengal, Rajagopal was stripped of his voting rights, and his passport renewal was denied. Despite holding a valid ten-year U.S. visa, he was unable to attend his daughter’s wedding in the United States. It is troubling that a journalist is being harassed merely for practicing true journalism.
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