Former Editor's Passport Renewal Delayed Amid West Bengal Voter Roll Revisions
Former Telegraph editor R Rajagopal's passport renewal has been delayed after his name was removed from West Bengal's electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), affecting nearly 27 lakh residents. Despite submitting documents and completing biometric formalities, police verification remains pending due to his exclusion. Opposition parties and the Editors Guild of India criticize this as an erosion of citizens' rights, linking it to the controversial SIR exercise. Appeals by affected voters, including Rajagopal, are pending before tribunals established by the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, some deleted voters face exclusion from welfare schemes under the new state government.