Modi Govt hell-bent on subverting RTI Act: Sonia Gandhi

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday accused the government of being “hell-bent on completely subverting the historic Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005,” a day after amendments to the same were passed by the Lok Sabha.

The UPA chairperson, who played a key role in the enactment of the RTI Act in 2005, slammed the Modi government for “subverting the historic RTI Act” and pushing it on the “brink of extinction.”

“It is a matter of utmost concern that the Central government is hell-bent on completely subverting the historic Right to Information Act, 2005. This law, prepared after widespread consultations and passed unanimously by Parliament, now stands on the brink of extinction,” Sonia Gandhi said in a statement.

The former Congress President said that over the past decade and more, 60 lakh citizens had benefitted from the RTI Act and the Act helped in ushering in a new culture of transparency and accountability.

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“The foundation of democracy has, as a result, been strengthened immeasurably. The weaker sections of the society have benefited greatly by the proactive views of the RTI by activists and others,” she said.

“It is clear that the present Central Government sees the RTI Act as a nuisance and wants to destroy the status and independence of the Central Information Commission which was put on par with the Central Election Commission and Central Vigilance Commission. “The Central Government may use its legislative majority to achieve its aim but in the process it would be disempowering each and every citizen of our country,” she further said.

The Lok Sabha on Monday passed amendments to the RTI Act.

“The functions being carried out by the Election Commission of India and the Central and State Information Commissions are totally different. The Election Commission of India is a Constitutional body…On the other hand, the Central Information Commission and State Information Commission are statutory bodies established under the Right to Information Act, 2005,” read the amended RTI bill.