Activists protest against RTI Amendment bill

The RTI workers are protesting against the Amendment Bill claiming that the amendment will dilute the transparency of the law. The workers also said that it is a threat to the fundamental rights of the citizens.

New Delhi: The RTI workers are protesting against the RTI Amendment Bill 2019 passed in the Lok Sabha on July 22.

Protests are being held at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, claiming that the amendment will dilute the transparency of the law.

"The Right to Information Act gives people democratic rights, if people do not have information, they will not be able to use the freedom of expression and this is a threat to their fundamental rights", Anjali Bhardwaj, an RTI activist told ETV Bharat.

She further said that "people demand information from the government with the RTI act and seek information for the fulfilment of their fundamental rights, but the RTI amendment law brought by Modi Government will completely weaken this law and hence we are opposing it".

All India Student Association's President Sucheta said, "Democracy is not only about casting votes, but it is also important to know how the democracy functions. Being a citizen of this country, RTI is our right and we will uphold it".

The Latest amendment removes the statutory protection of tenure, salaries, allowances and conditions of service given to the central and state Information Commissioners, who are the final adjudicators of information requests.

Instead, it says that their tenure and salaries shall be 'as prescribed by the Central Government'. The changes undermine the autonomy of the commissioners tasked with implementing the law.

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