Patkar gets passport office notice on pending cases;cries foul

Veteran social activist Medha Patkar has received a notice from the Regional Passport Office (RPO) here for allegedly not disclosing criminal cases pending against her while obtaining the travel document.

Miffed over the show-cause notice, the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader, a veteran of many agitations across the country, called it an attempt to target activists.

"This is a deliberate attempt to target activists and challenge their morality," the 64-year-old activist PTI on Thursday.

The RPO notice was issued to Patkar on October 18, asking her why her passport should not be impounded for not disclosing criminal cases pending against her while seeking the document, an official said.

She was reissued passport in March 30, 2017.

Patkar was asked to give explanation within 10 days, but did not respond to the notice, he said.

According to the notice, Patkar has nine cases pending against her in Madhya Pradesh - five in Khandwa, three in Barwani and one at Alirajpur district.

These cases relate to rioting and obstructing government servants from performing their official duty.

The passport office had sought details about these cases from the director general of Madhya Pradesh Police, the official said.

Reacting to the notice, Patkar said, "Cases mentioned in the notice seem to be those filed during our absolutely non -violent peaceful agitations for justice for the development projects (dams) affected families and for no other offence."