Nitish protests against Delhi ID plan

[jennifer]

NEW DELHI:- Calling it an attempt to "turn Delhi into a police state" and a "sinister design to target people of Bihari origin", Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has sent a strong letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh against the decision of Delhi's lieutenant governor that every resident of the capital should carry a photo identity card from January 15.

Kumar's angst found support across the political spectrum with major political parties opposing the decision.

Even as Delhi CM Shiela Dikshit criticised LG Tejendra Khanna's decision and said she was not consulted, Kumar requested the PM "not to allow trampling of citizens' rights". He reminded the PM of the "constitutional scheme" that does not "put barriers on free movement of people", while saying that "no one can claim exclusive jurisdiction over Delhi"...Read... (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Patna/Nitish_protests_against_Delhi_ID_plan/articleshow/2679495.cms)

[jennifer]

New Delhi:-, Jan 07: Not withstanding the intense criticism and pressure created by the political parties, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Tejinder Khanna on Monday took a U-turn on his previous order, which made ID cards mandatory for Delhites from January 15.

Revoking his previous order, Delhi Lieutenant Governor today said that it is not necessary for the ordinary citizens in Delhi to carry proof of their identity. However, he maintained that photo ID cards would be required on special occasions for security reasons.

Justifying his order, Khanna said, “This was just an advise to the common man and it was not a compulsion.”

Khanna’s announcement is likely to bring much relief to the common citizens, who suspected that they would be subject to harassment in the name of mandatory checking...Read... (http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=417022&sid=NAT&news=Lt%20Governor%20takes%20U-turn%20over%20ID%20cards)

[jennifer]

New Delhi, January 7

Having invited considerable criticism over the controversial issue of photo-identity cards in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna today performed a u-turn claiming that carrying of ID proof by the residents would not be mandatory.

“I had never said that ID proof would be made mandatory. The message had been misunderstood.” “I never said without ID cards, people would be treated as culprits. Ours is an open society and no citizen can be put to unwanted discomfort,” he said in a statement.

On January 4 Khanna had announced that he had given an order to the Delhi police for random checking of the denizens for possession of photo-id cards starting from January 15 in view of enhanced terror threats. He had also said if any individual was unable to produce the proof, adequate action would be taken against the concerned person. “I had just instructed the police commissioner to increase surveillance in different parts of the NCT to screen persons arousing suspicion,” Khanna clarified today. He said he had never intended or suggested that non-possession of the photo-identity cards would be treated as any kind of violation or any illicit action...Read... (http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080108/main2.htm)