Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (DV/SP)

Mangalore, Mar 21: "There appears to be a communication gap between the police department and the passport office, because of which the common people are suffering. When the passport applications are referred to them for verification, the policemen harass the applicants. Those who sign the passport applications as witnesses are summoned to the police station in the name of making enquiries. Many a time, these signatories are out of station or out of country when they are called to the police station, as there usually is a long gap between submission of applications and verificiation process by the police. Actually it is duty of policemen to visit the homes of the applicants and collect the required details relating to the applicants.  By making their own rules, the police officials are creating unwarranted problems for those desirous of securing passports," complained MLA, U T Khader, addressing a press meet held in the city on Wednesday March 20.

Referring to the unjust demand of the policemen for photographs of the applicants standing in front of their houses as part of the verification process, Khader said this condition creates problems for those who do not own houses, as the house owner might object to taking snaps with the rented houses in the background. Asserting that it is the duty of the police to personally verify the details provided in the applications, he added that they were not in order in creating problems for the commoners.

"I even spoke to Sharnappa Talvar, in-charge officer of passport office, relating to this issue, and he confirmed that the above conditions do not find mention in any of the rules. This issue was also brought to the notice of the police commissioner, who has assured to sort out the problems," the MLA explained.

Khader also slammed the BJP government in Karnataka for its negligent handling of power situation in Dakshina Kannada district, which has been worse. He accused the state government of following a policy of discrimination while providing electricity to the district, as compared to other districts. He rued the fact that industrialists, school children, and common people are suffering because of unscheduled and unwarranted power shut downs.

"The BJP government in the state does not have farsighted vision. Although both units of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd are ready, only one of them is generating power at present. The state government, which is now paying high prices for procuring power from outside, should have resorted to it two years ago. Because election is approaching, the cabinet has cleared a large number of pending files in one go. This is unconstitutional, and the election commission should not allow these schemes to be launched," he demanded.

Congress leaders T K Sudheer, N S Kareem, Santhosh Kumar Shetty, Vincent, Mustafa, Latheef, Jabeer, Claira were present at the press meet.                     

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