Right to information under threat

Vartha Bharati | 25-07-2018 | 10:15:00 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought the nation to the threshold of an economic crises, but he can never take any criticism from anyone for his decisions.  Even when he was the CM of Gujarat, he always worked on silencing his detractors. He didn’t even as much as criticize the genocide of a community that happened in 2002, but gave a rather silent concurrence to the whole incident. He targeted activist Teesta Setalvad who was working for the victims and dancer Mallika Sarabhai who spoke against the perpetrators. He continues the same approach even after he has become the PM and expects all others to concur with him and not ask questions or criticize.

This is the whole reason as to why he’d want to bring some damaging amendments to Right to Information act that is the finest testimony of transparency and democracy at work. So long as he was the CM, he worked to silence the Lokayukta and finally left it without teeth. Now after being the PM he is postponing the appointment of Lokpal. The last government led by

Manmohan Singh may have committed a few blunders with neo liberal policies under their UPA government. But their biggest achievement was to bring in RTI act of 2005 strengthening the fight of a common man to access democracy in administration and state matters. One could know so many facts about the government for a mere Rs 10, rightfully so. Every department, except for a few, were answerable to the application filed by anybody who sought information on matters relating to larger good, except for really sensitive areas such as security of the nation etc.

Many people unearthed the scams such as 2G and others of last government, using the same RTI route. This led to ministers like Raja and others being shunted out of office, and jailed for their role in corruption. Even at village panchayat level, an application and fee of Rs 10 could lay bare some of the most pertinent facts to administration and decisions that affect large section of people, within a stipulated time for response. In the neo liberal time, RTI was a shield for people to protect themselves against being fooled.

And such a powerful tool would undergo some massive changes now. A bill was supposed to be tabled in the parliament on July 19 but that has been postponed now. The Modi government is bent upon making this bill a defunct one for various reasons. If this is passed in the current session, people will lose the most empowering access they have to administrative matters. The organisations that are working to safeguard this bill and opposition parties have already voiced their opinion against this. But the government is saying this amendment is aimed at bringing better administration in terms of services of Information Commissioner and salaries of people involved. But if this amendment is through, it is sure to give access to government interference in the matter.

Many RTI activists had declared a war against corruption using the same route. Scams worth thousands of crores were being unearthed through this. Many activists had to lose their life for being on the right path. Many still live under threat. This being the case, Modi government trying to snatch the most powerful weapon owned by people, is deplorable.

During his early days as PM, he had declared ‘Na Khaunga Na Khane Dunga…’ He is yet to fulfil any of the promises he made at the beginning of his term. Vyapam scam of thousands of crores was unearthed in MP, where BJP is in power. Many RTI activists who tried to bring out more facts have been done to death so far. Yet, PM Narendra Modi safeguarded CM Chauhan.

Now, with just a year to go in the office, he is calling for a namesake meeting to appoint Lokpal, while denying the rightful place for Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge. Hence the Congress has boycotted the meeting since Kharge has been mentioned as ‘special invitee’ who would not have any power to advise or make any constructive suggestions to the committee. Even the Supreme Court has expressed its dissatisfaction over delay in appointment of Lokpal.

On the other hand, government want to camouflage information relating to corruption and hence it is weakening the RTI act. Capitalist cronies like Nirav Modi, Choksi and others have been looting banks and escaping to other nations. CBI judge Loya who was hearing case on charges of corruption against Amit Shah met a mysterious end. And the news of his death was given a forced burial. At times like these, to weaken the RTI act that empowers the last person in the society, is a very condemnable thing.

One of the intended amendments now says if the RTI applicant dies, the application/query needs to be dismissed. Though this bill was to be tabled, the information was kept out of people’s reach and that of opposition parties too who would insist that the proposed amendments be made public before being passed or implemented. On the surface, though this seems like an arrangement to streamline the salary to RTI Commissioners at state and central levels, people’s movements need to be proactive to oppose this and ensure the act is not weakened.

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