In a new order, Bihar police warned that people who engage in criminal activities during public order incidents, protest demonstrations and sadak jaam (road traffic disruption) and who are further mentioned on a charge sheet, They would have difficulty obtaining passports, government jobs, state financial grants, or even bank loans.
The order, issued by the Director General of Police, on February 1, said: “All this will be duly mentioned in the Police Verification Report. These people must be prepared for the dire consequences. “The order specifies nine services for which police verification is required: gun license, passport, certificate of character, contract jobs in government, employment contracts in government departments, boards and commissions. , licenses for gasoline pumps and gas agencies, government aid or subsidy, bank loans, and any other purpose in which such verification is requested.
Taking this a step further, the Uttarakhand police now plan to monitor and take note of comments made by people on social media. At a police officers conference on Tuesday, Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar asked police to keep a log of people who post “anti-national” or “anti-social” on social media, with screenshots as evidence.
“Previously, only FIR was verified, but now a person’s behavior will also be verified on social media,” he said.
When contacted, he told The Indian Express, “First, a person will be given an opportunity when making such posts for advice. But if a person is not amended, a record of their posts will be kept. No amendment to any law or regulation will be required to start mentioning ‘anti-national’ positions in police verification. “
Asked what kind of comments will be considered anti-national, Ashok Kumar said: “Whoever is writing against national unity and integrity, that is anti-national.”
In Bihar, the DGP referred to a January 29 circular from Amir Subhani, additional chief secretary of the Department of the Interior, requesting the DGP and the heads of all government departments to issue certificates of character to a potential contractor only after checking your criminal record. However, the Interior Department circular did not make any reference to “criminal involvement” during the demonstrations and protests.
Bihar police order comes shortly after circular issued by its Economic Crimes Unit on January 22, asking government departments to notify you of objectionable language against public officials, including parliamentarians, judicial representatives, and government officials. While the circular did not propose any suo motu action, the circular said that cases under the provisions of the IPC and the TI Act could be brought against any of those criminals on the basis of a written complaint.
Two days later, Bihar’s chief minister, Nitish Kumar, complained that technology was being misused and that any word about the good work done by the government was not reaching the people. At an event to mark the anniversary of the birth of Bihar’s socialist icon and former chief minister Karpoori Thakur, he said: “Technology should be used for good, but it is being abused… Anti-social work is being done on social media. This is sending the wrong message to the younger generation. “
The latest order has come under heavy criticism from opposition parties. Opposition leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav compared it to the Hitler / Mussolini regime. Nitish Kumar is offering a challenge to Hitler and Mussolini by ordering that any protest against the government and the exercise of democratic rights can deprive one of a government job. It means that the government would not give jobs or allow one to protest, ”he said in a tweet.
Former RJD National MP and Vice Chairman Shivanand Tewari told The Indian Express: “Is this the same Nitish Kumar who opposed the press bill introduced by the congressional government in Bihar in 1983? It cannot be a real disciple of Lohia and JP, who fought to defend democratic rights throughout their lives. “
When contacted, Bihar Additional DGP (Law and Order) Jitendra Kumar, said: “The order of the Bihar Police is being misinterpreted. The order does not put any brake on the democratic right to protest. But if one is involved in any criminal activity in the course of such protests, it will be reflected in his certificate of character. “
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