No jobs, passports for ‘anti-national’ social media posts in India

People protest outside a UNHCR office to urge the international community to help Afghan refugees, in New Delhi, India, on Aug 23, 2021. Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar and Uttarakhand state police have said participating in any kind of protest could result in clearances being denied for passports and government jobs. — Reuters

At least three Indian states are denying passports and government jobs to people because of their social media posts or participation in protests, human rights activists said.

In a move that could jeopardise the futures of tens of thousands of vocal young Indians, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar and Uttarakhand have issued such orders, as India clamps down on dissent online and on the ground.