Centre disempowering every citizen, says Sonia Gandhi on RTI Act amendment

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi said 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. The Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed with 218 members voting in its favour and 79 against it on Monday.

New Delhi: UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government is "hell-bent on completely subverting" the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

She added that Centre may 'achieve its aims' through the majority, but in the process, it would be disempowering each and every citizen of the country.

In her statement, the UPA Chairperson also mentioned that the law was prepared after wide-spread consultations and passed unanimously by Parliament, now stands on the brink of extinction

"Over the past decade and more, 60 lakh of our countrymen and women have used RTI and helped usher in a new culture of transparency and accountability administration at all levels. The foundations of our democracy have, as a result, been strengthened immeasurably. The weaker sections of society have benefitted greatly by the proactive use of RTI by activists and others," she added.

She went on to add, "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 aims but in the process, it would be disempowering each and every citizen of our country."

Her statement comes after the Lok Sabha, after division, on Monday passed the Right to Information (Amendment) Bill that allows the Central government to notify the term of office for the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioners (ICs). The Opposition slammed the measure as diluting the provisions of the legislation.

The Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed with 218 members voting in its favour and 79 against it after a reply by Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Jitendra Singh.

Congress and other opposition parties also staged a walkout after division.