E-Paper
Modi govt’s proposed changes will make RTI Act useless: Rahul Gandhi
Many activists have strongly opposed the proposed changes to the RTI Act pertaining to the salaries and services of chief information commissioner and information commissioner.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday people must oppose the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government’s proposal to amend the right to information (RTI) act as it will make the legislation “useless”.
“Every Indian has the right to know the truth. The BJP believes the truth must be hidden from the people and they must not question people in power. The changes proposed to the RTI will make it a useless Act. They must be opposed by every Indian. #SaveRTI,” Gandhi tweeted.
The government said on Wednesday it is considering a proposal to amend the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, to frame rules on salaries and services of chief information commissioner and information commissioners.
Minister of state for personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha that a notice of intention has been given to introduce The Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2018, in the Rajya Sabha for consideration and passage during the current session of Parliament.
The proposed amendments, circulated among members of Parliament, seek to do away with the parity given to information commissions with the Election Commission in terms of salary, allowances and conditions of service.
Many activists have strongly opposed amendments to the act, saying they are aimed at lowering the stature of the information commissions and to do away with their five years fixed tenure.
Leaders of various political parties also said they are committed to fighting any “attempt” by the Centre to “dilute” the act and oppose any amendments to it.
