Protests continue against LG's id cards order

New Delhi, Jan 7 (UNI) Delhi Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna's January 4 announcement requiring all residents to carry with them any identification to be produced on demand by police continued to raise a furore with various political parties, including the ruling Congress, resisting the move.

A delegation comprising Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and her Cabinet colleagues, followed by a delegation of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee led by PCC chief JP Aggarwal and including several MPs called on the Lt Governor this morning to seek a clarification regarding the reported requirement for Delhi citizens to carry photo identity cards from January 15.

The LG sought to clarify that he had issued no mandatory order regarding possession of identity cards or their checking as such by Police from that date, nor was it ever intended or suggested that non-possession of such identification would be treated as any kind of violation or elicit punitive action by the police.

The state unit of the CPI(M), which had on Saturday termed the order a ''license for harassment of citizens'' and a ''step to evict the poor from the city,'' and demanded its immediate withdrawal today held a demonstration at Parliament Street to press for removal of the ''draconian order.'' Former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Goel also termed the Lt Governor's proposal as ''impractical'' and ''a weapon to the police to harass even the innocent and law-abiding citizens.'' ''Although the intention of the Lt Governor could be good while making it mandatory for everyone to carry some identity proof from January 15, the proposal was not practical at all and it seemed it was not discussed with the Central government,'' he said, in a statement, adding that even the Chief Minister was not aware of it.

Slamming the move, the CPI(M-L)'s state unit claimed the order would allow further harassment and exploitation of migrants and unorganised workers by the police, and declared it would launch a massive agitation and mobilise the people against the move.

It demanded that the order be put on hold until all residents of the city have been provided photo identity cards and the mechanism for its issuance becomes speedy and prompt for newcomers.

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