Activists criticise govt, parties for change in RTI Act

Social and RTI activists today
slammed the government and political parties for their
move to amend the Right To Information Act to keep
political parties out of the purview of transparency
law.
The government yesterday obtained the Cabinet approval
to amend RTI Act to keep political parties out of the
purview of Act.
The Central Information Commission (CIC) had in a ruling
in June said six national parties- the BJP, the Congress,
NCP, BSP, CPI and CPI(M) had the character of a public
authority under the Right to Information Act so they were
required to appoint public information officers.
Noted RTI activist Subhash Chandra Agrawal said if
the government moved to keep political parties out of
purview of the RTI Act, then the parties should withdraw
all the government facilities.
”Morality and ethics (which do not exist in political community)
demand that bill to keep political parties
out of purview of RTI Act must be pre-conditioned that
they will have to return land and bungalows allotted to
them by Union and state governments at subsidised
rate and lease,” Mr Agrawal said.
He said tax-concessions available to the political
parties should also be abolished.
”The said legislation should make all co-operative
societies including multi-state-co-operative societies
(MSCS), Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP) and all
national-level sports-federations including BCCI to
be covered under RTI Act,” he said.
Mr Agrawal said all those getting land and accommodation
from governments at subsidised lease/rate etc should be
declared as public authorities under RTI Act.

He said considering dominating role of private sector on
day-to-day aspects of public life like telecommunications
and banking, private sector above certain specified
turn-over should also be brought under RTI Act.
”Unanimity among political parties is quite usual whenever their
mutual interests are involved, and naturally these
are against public interests,” he commented.
He also slammed the political parties their option to
undo Supreme Court verdicts on tainted ones entering
the legislature by asserting supremacy of Parliament.
”Apprehensions about ruling parties misusing Supreme
Court verdict on poll-eves against their political opponents
are valid. But instead of totally negating Supreme Court
verdict, some effective remedy should be legislated to
practically free legislature from criminals,” he said.
”No Parliamentarian will ever invest on a poll gamble
for public welfare by investing like rupees eight crores
on Lok Sabha election and ‘buying’ a Rajya Sabha seat
for rupee 100 crore. These are investments for minting
money out of corruption,” Mr Agrawal added.
He stressed on the need of a massive poll reform
including Right to Reject.
”But will our law makers clip their own wings by
accepting long pending Election Commission recommendations
in this regard?”he asked.
Another noted RTI activist Gopal Prasad opposed the
Centre’s move on the Act saying RTI activists from across
the country would launch a movement against this.
”The government’s step is against transparency. Why
political parties are opposing implementation of RTI Act
on them. People of the country have right to know about
funding of the parties and its sources,” Mr Prasad
said.
Mr Prasad, who is also General Secretary of RTI Activists’
Association, said he will talk to other organisations
working on RTI Act to chalk out a strategy against the
government’s move.
”I will also write to BJP president Rajnath Singh and
senior party leaders within a day or two on the issue.
The BJP should think over it as the party always talks
about corruption and transparency,” he added.
Mr Prasad said the RTI activists are considering to
move to court against the government’s step.