BENGALURU: Former Bengaluru police commissioner Bhaskar Rao has urged the Union Home Ministry to verify YouTuber Dhruv Rathee’s citizenship, immigration status and compliance with visa conditions after he attended an anti-SIR protest in Bengaluru on October 8.In a letter to the Union Home Secretary, Rao said Rathee, who is understood to hold German citizenship, joined the protest alongside actor-activist Prakash Raj and others, and criticised the Election Commission of India over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.Rao, who unsuccessfully contested the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections on a BJP ticket from Chamararajpet, shared his letter on his X handle.“The limited and specific issue requiring examination is whether a foreign national, while present in India on the basis of a particular visa, immigration permission or other status, is legally entitled to participate in, address or otherwise associate himself with an organised political protest concerning the functioning of India’s constitutional and statutory institutions,” Rao said in the letter.Rao urged the ministry to verify Rathee’s current citizenship, the passport he used to enter India, his visa category or other permission to stay in the country, the declared purpose of his visit and the conditions governing his stay.He also sought scrutiny of whether Rathee’s participation in and address at the protest complied with applicable immigration and visa rules, and whether prior permission or clearance was required.If any violation of the Foreigners Act, 1946, visa conditions, immigration regulations, OCI rules or other applicable laws was established, appropriate action should be taken in accordance with the law, he said.Clarifying the basis of his representation, Rao said it was not motivated by disagreement with Rathee’s political views or criticism of the government or the Election Commission. The request was intended to ensure that foreign nationals complied with the legal framework governing their presence and activities in India.He also urged authorities to preserve and examine relevant immigration and entry-exit records to independently verify the matter.According to news agency PTI, Rathee attended a protest titled ‘People’s Tribunal’ at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on Thursday against the SIR. Organised by civil society groups and the CJP, the protest was also attended by actor Prakash Raj and CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke.(With agency inputs)
