Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai cannot be allowed to travel to London as she would indulge in anti-national activities there, government told the Delhi High Court on Friday.
However, the court termed her not being allowed to visit London as inappropriate, saying the government has to draw a line to distinguish between “nationalism and jingoism”.
Pillai, who was on January 11 offloaded from a flight to London at the IGI airport here, had sought permission again to visit the British capital to make a presentation before British MPs on alleged human rights violation at Mahan in Madhya Pradesh.
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing for the Centre, told Justice Rajiv Sakhdher that a lookout circular issued against Pillai on the advice of the Intelligence Bureau was in national interest.
But the court said the government has to draw a line between “nationalism and jingoism”. It said there are many who indulged in anti-national activities but were travelling abroad.
Jain, however, said Pillai’s visit to London was “a serious threat to the nation” and her tickets were from a group on the Home Ministry watchlist. Submitting a set of documents, he said the government was stopping her only for this trip as it has specific IB inputs. The next hearing is on February 18.
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