Nitish seeks PM's intervention into ID Card regulation in Delhi

Patna, Jan 6 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to stop the Delhi administration from making it mandatory for the citizens to carry their voters' ID Cards and stated that it goes against the interests of the people from Bihar.

''This is discriminatory and in violation of the constitutional rights of the Biharis working in Delhi,'' the chief minister said in a letter to Dr Singh and added that the constitution envisages the right to every citizen to earn their livelyhood in any part of the country, without being discriminated.

He said that the fresh move of the Delhi government making it mandatory for the citizens to carry their Voter's Identity Cards was in violation of spirit of the constituion and would increase the harassments of innocent people at the hands of the police.

''The insistence by the administration to carry driving licenses issued from Delhi alone, to be able to drive a car there, was discriminatory,'' Mr Kumar said adding that the Motor Vehicles Act clearly stipulates that licenses issued by any competent authority would remain valid across the country.

''How could a democratically-elected government ignore the provisions of the act, which is followed all over the country without any hiccups and hesitation,'' he said.

''Our national capital reflects the confluence of many regions and cultures of our 'Ganga-Jamua Tehjeeb'', he philosophised and said no one could claim the exclusive jurisdiction over Delhi.

''The contribution of the people of Bihar towards the development of Delhi cannot be ignored,'' Mr Kumar said and added that the whole exercise appeared to target the interests of Biharis who were in Delhi to earn their livelihood exercising rights granted by the constituion.

UNI KKS LL MSJ DB2138